CAF President Patrice Motsepe has expressed pride and optimism after a historic milestone for African football, with ten nations set to represent the continent at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The expanded tournament, to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will see Africa field its largest ever number of qualifying nations, underlining the steady growth and rising competitiveness of the game across the continent.
In an official statement, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President highlighted the significance of the achievement and backed the teams to make a strong impact on the global stage.
It is the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that Africa is represented by 10 Countries. This is a recognition of the substantial growth and global competitiveness of African Football. We are confident that the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will make us proud and that an African Nation will be Champions of the FIFA World Cup. We also want to congratulate the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) for their victory against Jamaica and qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
The ten qualified nations include Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the latter sealing their place after a dramatic playoff victory over Jamaica.
With the expanded format offering more opportunities, Africa heads into the tournament with renewed belief, as its representatives aim to translate continental progress into a strong showing on football’s biggest stage.
