Three African teams through to World Cup round of 32
June 26, 2026 6:25 am
Three African nations have secured places in the Round of 32 at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a strong showing for the continent at the expanded tournament.
Out of the 10 teams representing the continent, Morocco, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire have so far confirmed their places in the knockout stage.
Egypt, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Algeria, Senegal and Congo DR remain in contention ahead of their final group matches as of Friday, June 26.
Morocco finished runners-up in Group C after a 4-2 victory over Haiti, setting up a Round of 32 clash against Group F winners the Netherlands on June 29.
South Africa made history by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time after recovering from an opening defeat to co-hosts Mexico.
Bafana Bafana drew with Czechia before defeating Korea Republic to finish second in Group A and book a meeting with Canada on June 28.
Côte d’Ivoire also progressed after finishing second in Group E with victories over Ecuador and Curaçao.
The Elephants will face the runners-up from Group I in the Round of 32 on June 30.
Among the remaining African representatives, Egypt lead Group G with four points from two matches, while Ghana are second in Group L on goal difference behind England, with both sides on four points.
Cabo Verde are third in Group H with two points, level with Uruguay but behind on goal difference, while Algeria are third in Group J with three points, the same tally as Austria.
Senegal and Congo DR have already been eliminated from automatic qualification contention but still have opportunities depending on final group results and the competition’s best third-placed ranking system.
Elsewhere, hosts Mexico, the United States, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador and Sweden have also advanced to the Round of 32.
Teams already eliminated from the tournament include Tunisia from Africa, alongside Haiti, Türkiye, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czechia and Curaçao.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams and a Round of 32, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to the knockout stage.
Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
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