Morocco set a new standard for Africa when they reached the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the furthest any team from the continent had gone in the global showpiece tournament.
They are back to try again at the 2026 finals, part of a record 10 sides from Africa at the expanded 48-team tournament, the second-most from a single confederation after Europe (16).
Brazilian great Pelé famously said he believed an African side would win the World Cup by the year 2000. That has not happened, but Morocco’s form and the excellence shown by the likes of Senegal and Ivory Coast in recent years suggest teams are getting closer.
With more players from African national teams now plying their trade in Europe than ever, and many having been developed through high-quality youth systems in France, Spain and the Netherlands, the gap is closing fast with the rest of the world.
Teams from Africa are more competitive than ever, and while for the likes of debutants Cape Verde the tournament will be a big step up in level, most others are now experienced in World Cups.
The expected hot weather should, in theory, favour the African sides, though with many players born and raised in Europe, that is perhaps not so much the case anymore.
The format of the World Cup now also allows eight of the best third-placed teams to advance to the knockout rounds, and that will open up opportunities for African sides.
Once you get to knockout games, no matter who you are playing, anything can happen, as we have seen plenty of times in the past.
Sadly, there is no Nigeria or Cameroon at these finals, two stalwarts of World Cups in the past, but there are teams that will have ambitions to go deep into the tournament.
Here is a quick guide to the African contenders.
ALGERIA
- World ranking: 28
- Coach: Vladimir Petković (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Group opponents: Argentina (June 16), Jordan (June 22), Austria (June 27)
Prospects: Algeria are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014, when they advanced to the round of 16, their best finish to date. They have an experienced coach in Vladimir Petković, who previously led Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup. Many of their players were born in France and feature for teams in Europe’s top five leagues, with experience of high-level competition. If they can play with confidence, they will be a test for anybody.
CAPE VERDE
- World ranking: 69
- Coach: Bubista
- Group opponents: Spain (June 15), Uruguay (June 21), Saudi Arabia (June 26)
Prospects: It could not have got much tougher for Cape Verde in their World Cup debut, with clashes against top sides Spain and Uruguay. But their final match against Saudi Arabia will present an opportunity. The team qualified at the expense of Cameroon in a major surprise, and must now seize their chance. Many of their players ply their trade in Portugal.
DR CONGO
- World ranking: 46
- Coach: Sébastien Desabre (France)
- Group opponents: Portugal (June 17), Colombia (June 23), Uzbekistan (June 27)
Prospects: DR Congo return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire, their only previous showing. They have a deep French influence, but had to take the long road through the intercontinental qualifiers to book their place. They are a country that is often seen as underachieving, given their enormous potential, this is their chance to step up. They have players with Premier League and LaLiga experience, but putting it together as a collective effort will be the challenge.
EGYPT
- World ranking: 29
- Coach: Hossam Hassan
- Group opponents: Belgium (June 15), New Zealand (June 21), Iran (June 26)
Prospects: Egypt received arguably the best draw of any of the African sides, with two very winnable games and one against a Belgium side that tends to blow hot and cold. They will be supremely confident of making the knockout round and, with a high place in the group, should be given an easier path. They will rely heavily on Mo Salah and Omar Marmoush for goals, but as ever, are likely to be well organised and difficult to break down.
GHANA
- World ranking: 74
- Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portugal)
- Group opponents: Panama (June 17), England (June 23), Croatia (June 27)
Prospects: Ghanaian football has been in the doldrums for some time, especially after they failed to qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations. They have installed the well-travelled Carlos Queiroz on a short-term deal for the World Cup in a bid to boost their flagging fortunes, but have several injury concerns and have been handed a very difficult draw. They are a team with strong potential and good individuals, and if Queiroz can get them to play as a team, they may well advance.
IVORY COAST
- World ranking: 34
- Coach: Emerse Faé
- Group opponents: Ecuador (June 14), Germany (June 20), Curaçao (June 25)
Prospects: Another team with a favourable draw as the Ivorians return to the global stage for the first time in 12 years after qualifying three times in a row between 2006 and 2014. They are packed with talent from Europe’s elite leagues and will be physical and full of running. Their coach, Emerse Faé, has had a storybook rise after guiding the side to the 2023 AFCON title, but this is the big leagues.
MOROCCO
- World ranking: 8
- Coach: Mohamed Ouahbi
- Group opponents: Brazil (June 13), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24)
Prospects: Any team ranked No 8 in the world will expect to go deep into the tournament, and new coach Mohamed Ouahbi will feel the pressure to do so. He took over from Walid Regragui in March, despite the latter leading Morocco to fourth place at the last World Cup and, as things stand, the 2025 Afcon title, albeit in controversial circumstances. Ouahbi takes over a talented group of players, though some may wonder if this generation has peaked. They are the type of side that, if they get on a roll, can be very dangerous, but at the same time, if things start to go wrong, they can struggle to recover.
SENEGAL
- World ranking: 14
- Coach: Pape Thiaw
- Group opponents: France (June 16), Norway (June 22), Iraq (June 26)
Prospects: Probably the most naturally gifted squad of the African sides, but they have been handed a rough draw. They have built up plenty of experience in tournament football over the last decade and bring athleticism and no shortage of skill. They have pace and physicality and will be a handful for whoever they play. Their first two games at the finals are a real test, though, and even Iraq will present a challenge.
SOUTH AFRICA
- World ranking: 60
- Coach: Hugo Broos (Belgium)
- Group opponents: Mexico (June 11), Czech Republic (June 18), South Korea (June 24)
Prospects: Bafana Bafana are back on the big stage for the first time since they were hosts in 2010, earning their spot in their pool ahead of Nigeria. They are not a team full of goals, but work hard, are well structured, and can be difficult to break down. They have a largely home-based squad, mostly from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, but that means they have a good understanding. Bafana have a difficult group that is likely to be tight between four evenly matched teams, but they will be hopeful of at least third place.
TUNISIA
- World ranking: 44
- Coach: Sabri Lamouchi
- Group opponents: Sweden (June 14), Japan (June 20), Netherlands (June 25)
Prospects: Tunisia have been among the most consistent of the African sides to qualify for the World Cup, now appearing at six of the last eight tournaments. But they are yet to get out of the pool stage and will face another tough assignment this time around against three good opponents. Scoring goals is the big issue; in three of their last five appearances at the global finals, they have managed a single goal in their three pool games. How they solve that issue is the big question mark around this team.