Africa has already broken new ground at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with seven nations confirming their place in the Round of 32 – the most the continent has ever had in the tournament’s history.
Morocco were the first to seal their spot, finishing second in Group C behind Brazil after a 4-2 win over Haiti. South Africa followed with a historic 1-0 win over South Korea, sending Bafana Bafana into the knockout rounds for the first time ever. Ivory Coast became the third, securing their place in Group E.
Read more: Soccermag
Egypt, Cape Verde, Senegal and Ghana have since secured their place in the knockouts.
The previous record stood at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Algeria and Ivory Coast both progressed from the group phase.
AFRICA PICKS: Croatia vs Ghana – World Cup value bet
Remarkably, the continent’s record could still grow further. DR Congo and Algeria remain in contention heading into the final round of group fixtures, meaning Africa could end up with as many as nine representatives in the last 32 – an outcome that would have seemed unthinkable before the tournament began.
Read more sports stories from AfricaPicks
The achievement reflects the expanded format of this year’s World Cup, with 48 teams and 10 direct African qualifying slots compared to five in previous editions. But it also speaks to the genuine quality on display, with Morocco, South Africa and Ivory Coast all earning their progression through performances on the pitch nor fixture luck alone.
Picture: X/@BafanaBafana
