Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast Carry African Hopes Into Last 32
Africa has placed three of its record 10 representatives into the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Morocco, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire booking knockout berths and six more nations still chasing qualification before the group stage closes.
The trio advanced through contrasting routes. Morocco qualified in second place in Group C and will face the Group F runners-up, the Netherlands, on June 29 after a 4-2 win over Haiti. South Africa wrote a fresh chapter in its football story. Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 win over South Korea on Wednesday, June 24, advanced the nation to the Round of 32 for the first time, recovering from an opening defeat to co-hosts Mexico to finish second in Group A. They meet Canada on June 28.
Côte d’Ivoire completed the set on Thursday. Nicolas Pépé’s double sealed a 2-0 victory over Curaçao, the Elephants finishing second in Group E after losing 2-1 to Germany and beating Ecuador 1-0.
The picture for the remaining African sides is finely balanced ahead of the final fixtures. Egypt lead Group G, while Ghana sit second in Group L on goal difference behind England, both on four points. Cabo Verde, the only African debutant, are third in Group H on two points, and Algeria third in Group J on three. Senegal and Congo DR face uphill battles, with the Teranga Lions needing a win over Iraq on June 26 to keep alive their hopes of a best third-placed finish. Tunisia, despite an unbeaten qualifying run, have been eliminated.
The continent’s strong start carries weight against its World Cup history. African teams have reached the quarter-finals only four times, through Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010, and Morocco in 2022. Morocco’s run to the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, the first by an African or Arab nation, reset expectations for the continent. No African side has gone further.
The expanded format offers a wider door than before. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, features 48 teams in 12 groups, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the new Round of 32. The shift from five direct CAF slots to nine, plus a play-off place, gave Africa its largest-ever presence at a finals.
That depth is reflected in the qualifying records the African sides brought to North America. Morocco won all eight of their completed group games, scoring 22 and conceding just two, while Côte d’Ivoire conceded zero goals across 10 group matches, matching Tunisia for the best defensive record in African qualifying.
The knockout phase runs from June 28 to July 3, with the final set for MetLife Stadium in the New York area. For Morocco, the immediate task is daunting; a meeting with the Netherlands tests whether the Atlas Lions can build on their Qatar breakthrough. South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, carry the quieter ambition of a continent that has long knocked on the door of a World Cup semi-final without forcing it open.