Nine African teams guaranteed in 2026 World Cup qualification

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, nine African teams are guaranteed to qualify, with a possibility of a tenth. The new qualification format includes nine groups of six teams, with group winners qualifying directly and four best runners-up entering playoffs. As of now, Egypt leads Group A with 10 points, while Morocco tops Group E with nine points. Cameroon is first in Group D with eight points, and Ivory Coast leads Group F with 10 points. Other notable teams include Senegal and Algeria, both in strong positions. Nigeria struggles in Group C, sitting fifth with three draws and one loss. South Africa is second in Group C, tied on points with Rwanda, which leads the group. The next round of qualifiers begins on March 17.