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28 June 2026 Updated: 29 June 2026
African nations write history at the World Cup: is the first triumph close?
Il 2026 World Cup sees a record 10 African teams participating, with seven already advancing to the knockout stage, showcasing the continent's growing football prowess.
The 2026 World Cup features a record 10 African nations participating, and seven of these have already qualified for the elimination phase. Two more have the opportunity to do so later today - a remarkable achievement for a continent that in 2022 had only five capable of progressing from the group.
African national teams that have passed the group: Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ghana African national teams still in the running to advance to the next round: Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria African national teams that did not progress from the group: Tunisia
Before this World Cup, only six African nations in the history of the competition had managed to qualify for the elimination phase, for a total of 11 qualifiers. This 2026, however, is proving to be extraordinary: the number of African nations that will access the round of 16 could even exceed those that qualified in the past.
The data demonstrates the growth of African football and the ever-increasing ability of the continent's footballers to compete at the highest levels against the best teams in the world. In this tournament, African teams have taken points from Brazil, England, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and Belgium, all teams with a great football tradition who are increasingly struggling to compete with African talent.
The data also makes us reflect on what the future of the African national teams could be. If in 2010 South Africa was the first country on the continent to host the World Cup, in 2030 it will be Morocco's turn, which together with Spain and Portugal will host the event. Investment and development of African football federations is continuing to grow.
We have already seen African teams reach the quarter-finals. At the last World Cup, Morocco set the record of advancing to the semi-finals. But how long will we have to wait to see an African team lift the world cup?
FOX Sports analyst Peter Crouch believes that moment isn't that far away, saying: "It's only a matter of time before an African team wins the World Cup."
This observation has its basis if you look at the path of the African national teams: they are going further and further in the tournament, competing on equal terms with the strongest teams in the world and are now setting record qualifications for the elimination phase. In short, that moment may not be so far away.
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