In a way, Africa has redefined what the 2026 World Cup looks like. Nine out of ten of their sides have made it to the last 32, a number that puts the old record of two to shame. Tunisia is the only one left out, and that says a lot about how the balance of power has changed.
Put it in perspective: back in 2014, Algeria and Nigeria were the only ones to get past the groups. Fast forward 17 days of hard-nosed group play in 2026 and you have an unprecendented nine from the continent ready for the knockout stage. It’s a sign of where things are heading in terms of depth and consistency.
Who is through from Africa
The list of African qualifiers for the Round of 32 is as follows:
– Ghana
– Morocco
– Egypt
– Senegal
– Algeria
– DR Congo
– South Africa
– Ivory Coast
– Cabo Verde
Tunisia was the one to come up short. Asia, for their part, will be putting just Japan and Australia in the hat for the next round.
Drama, firsts and a fairytale
Some of these spots were hard-fought. Take Algeria’s 3-3 with Austria. You had Riyad Mahrez make it 3-2 late in the game, then Austria tied it up on the very last kick of the clock. But the draw was enough to get both over the line.
Then you have DR Congo. They were behind to Uzbekistan before turning it around for a 3-1. It was their first time ever winning a World Cup game and the first time they’ve been in the knockouts. Wissa and Mayele did the work, and now they have England to deal with in the Round of 32.
Cabo Verde has been the story of the underdog. The Blue Sharks didn’t win a match in the group but three draws – with the likes of Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia – were all it took. They are the first since Chile in ’98 to do it without a win to their name.
There was some personal history in the making as well. Vozinha, the 40-year-old in goal for Cabo Verde, is now in rare company with Shilton and Zoff as one of the few to post multiple clean sheets in a World Cup after his 40th birthday. A 0-0 with Saudi Arabia was the final piece of a very steady run.
Morocco set the tempo
You could say Morocco are still in a class of their own. After reaching the semi-finals in Qatar, they are looking every bit as strong. Their 1-1 with Brazil in the groups was a statement of intent, and it fits with the overall upswing in quality we are seeing from the continent.
What this means for the World Cup
This is more than a statistic. The fact that Africa has put up nine teams makes for a much tighter, less predictable tournament. It is a testament to the strength of African football right now, and you can expect them to be tested in the coming weeks.
For the rest of the world, it’s a case of recalibrating. If you are a regular in this tournament, you have to be ready for some pace and a different style of play when you meet an African side in the Round of 32. For the supporters, it’s a chance to see some new faces and feel some pride.
What comes next
Now we will see if the momentum holds. DR Congo have their work cut out for them with England. The others will have to be more clinical in a one-off game. One thing is for sure: the 2026 World Cup has a new narrative, and it is being put to paper by Africa.
