African national football teams begin their World Cup journey next week with a strong ambition to do the continent proud.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, ten national teams from Africa will be participating, with legitimate aspirations to overcome the initial hurdles.
This is a record for the continent made possible by the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams, the African representation reflects the diversity and growing strength of its football.
The African teams at the tourmament, which kicks off in June 11 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have been handed draws that mix prestigious matches, manageable paths, and formidable early obstacles to reach the first knockout round of the competition.
This edition, marked by the introduction of the new 48-team format, unveiled for the first time an expanded group stage where several high-profile matches await the ten African teams that
qualified for this global tournament.
The draw produced a series of promising encounters highlighting Africa’s ambitions on the world stage. A semi-finalist at the last World Cup held in Qatar, Morocco, featuring players like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, Noussair Mazraoui, and Yassine Bounou, will face five-time champions Brazil, in their opening match on June 13.
Brazil boasts talents such as Neymar Jr. (who hasn’t been called up to the Brazilian national team since 2023), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid), Raphinha (FC Barcelona), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Magalhães (both Arsenal).
In their second match, the Atlas Lions, coached by Mohamed Ouahbi, will play Scotland before facing Haiti to secure qualification to the Round of 16.
A regular participant in the World Cup since the 1970s, Morocco made African history in 1986 by becoming the first African nation to reach the Round of 16. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals after eliminating Spain and Portugal, among others. Morocco, having become the first African team to reach this stage of the competition, are aiming even higher and that is to reach the final of the world’s most prestigous tournament.
South Africa, returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010, has been placed in Group A alongside the host country, Mexico, South Korea, and the winner of the European Play-off A, the Czech Republic. The Bafana Bafana will have to contend with a tough and evenly matched group if they hope to reach the next round. Ivory Coast, who will be competing in their fourth World Cup in 2026, face Germany, Curaçao, and Ecuador in Group E.
Tunisia will play in Group F, alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden.
Facing a formidable Dutch team, the Carthage Eagles are banking on their solidity to aim for success against Japan and the winner of the play-offs, Sweden.
Egypt, returning to the World Cup after its appearance in 2018, has probably inherited one of the most readable groups for the continent.
The Pharaohs, who will compete in their fourth world final phase after those of 1934, 1990 and 2018, led by their emblematic captain Mohamed Salah, will face Belgium, Iran and New Zealand in Group G, a draw which offers them a real chance of reaching the knockout phases.
Despite its immense African record, Egypt has never made it past the group stage at a World Cup.
Debutants Cape Verde will play the first World Cup in its history in a tough Group H, with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
For the Blue Sharks, it will be a historic entry as much as a revelation of their recent rise.
The Algerian Fennecs will play in Group J, facing Argentina, Austria and Jordan. An entry into the running of the Algerians against the reigning world champion promises to be one of the highlights of the first round of the world championship.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane will lead a World Cup rematch with France, recalling the emblematic opening of the 2002 World Cup. Winners of the 2021 and 2025 AFCON tournaments (the latter handed to Morocco on default), Senegal will play its 4th World Cup, including three consecutively participations.
Eliminated in the round of 16 in 2022, the Teranga Lions will face France, Iraq and Norway in Group I.
Ghana, for its part, appears in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. The Black Stars will have to rediscover their former magic to emerge from a group that is as homogeneous as it is competitive.
Finally, DR Congo, qualified from an intercontinental play-off, will face Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
With prestigious posters, reunions steeped in history and real openings for several nations, the African adventure at the 2026 World Cup begins under immense pressure from the continent’s football fans.
The 2026 World Cup opener is scheduled for Mexico City on June 11 at 1:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. CET) when the hosts take on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. This was the opening fixture when South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010.
World Cup matches will take place in 16 stadiums spread across as many cities.
The final is scheduled to take place at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19 at 3:00 p.m. local time.
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