African teams rewrite World Cup history with record nine in last 32

African football has reached an unprecedented milestone at the FIFA 2026 World Cup, with nine of the continent’s 10 representatives qualifying for the Round of 32 in the most successful campaign in Africa’s World Cup history.

The expanded 48-team tournament has provided African nations with their greatest collective achievement, surpassing all previous editions. Before 2026, only six African countries had ever reached the World Cup knockout stages, doing so on just 11 occasions.

The nine African teams to advance are Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa. Tunisia were the continent’s only casualty in the group stage.

The feat shatters Africa’s previous record of two teams reaching the knockout stage, set at both the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.

Several African nations also produced memorable results against global heavyweights, taking points off Brazil, Spain, Belgium and Uruguay to underline the continent’s growing strength on the world stage.

Morocco continued the momentum from its historic 2022 campaign, when it became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. The Atlas Lions finished second in Group C after earning a valuable draw against Brazil, proving their success in Qatar was no fluke.

Senegal extended its reputation as one of Africa’s most consistent World Cup performers by reaching the knockout stage once again. The Lions of Teranga first captured global attention with their quarter-final run on their tournament debut in 2002.

Ghana also advanced, adding another chapter to a World Cup history that includes its famous run to the quarter-finals in 2010.

Egypt celebrated a historic breakthrough by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time. Africa’s first World Cup representative, who debuted in 1934, finally advanced beyond the group stage after nearly a century.

Algeria booked their place in the Round of 32 following a dramatic 3-3 draw with Austria.

South Africa also reached the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history, while Ivory Coast celebrated its maiden qualification beyond the group phase after an impressive campaign.

DR Congo made history by recording the country’s first-ever World Cup victories and securing a place in the knockout rounds. The nation previously competed as Zaire in 1974.

Tournament debutants Cape Verde emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the competition, becoming the smallest nation by population ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage after holding Spain and Uruguay to draws.

With nine teams still in contention, Africa has already secured its most successful FIFA World Cup campaign.

Attention now turns to the knockout rounds, where the continent’s representatives will attempt to surpass Morocco’s semi-final run in 2022 and continue rewriting World Cup history.

South Africa vs Canada — June 28, 8:00 p.m. — Los Angeles Stadium

Morocco vs Netherlands — June 30, 2:00 a.m. — Estadio Monterrey

Ivory Coast vs Norway — June 30, 6:00 p.m. — Dallas Stadium

DR Congo vs England — July 1, 5:00 a.m. — Atlanta Stadium

Senegal vs Belgium — July 1, 9:00 p.m. — Seattle Stadium

Algeria vs Switzerland — July 3, 4:00 a.m. — BC Place, Vancouver

Egypt vs Australia — July 3, 7:00 p.m. — Dallas Stadium

Cape Verde vs Argentina — July 3, 11:00 p.m. — Miami Stadium

Ghana vs Colombia — July 4, 2:30 a.m. — Kansas City Stadium