Africa’s Road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Current Standings and Results

Rethabile Nyelele24 March , 2025

The race for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up, with African teams battling for qualification. The tournament, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature more teams than ever. Africa has been given nine direct spots, with a chance for a tenth team to qualify through an intercontinental playoff.

How Qualification Works

A total of 54 African teams are competing, divided into nine groups of six teams each. The group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up will enter a playoff to fight for a place in the intercontinental playoff.

Current Standings and Key Results (as of 24 March 2025)

Some teams are already making their mark in the qualifiers:

Group A: Egypt leads by five points after a 2-0 win over Ethiopia, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Zizo.
Group C: South Africa is on top after a 2-0 victory against Lesotho.
Group E: Morocco remains in first place following a 2-1 win over Niger, with Bilal El Khannouss scoring the winner.
Group I: Ghana crushed Chad 5-0, climbing to the top of their group.

South Africa’s Strong Start

Bafana Bafana, under coach Hugo Broos, have shown great form, especially with their win over Lesotho, which kept them at the top of Group C. With solid defence and a dynamic attack, they are pushing hard to book their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Also Read: Bafana Bafana Dominate Lesotho with 2-0 Victory in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Underdogs Making an Impact

The expanded format has given smaller nations a chance to qualify for the first time:

Comoros: The island nation is leading their group and close to a historic qualification.
Sudan: Overcoming internal struggles, they sit at the top of Group B.
Rwanda & Benin: Both teams remain in contention, showing the growing competitiveness of African football.

Upcoming Fixtures to Watch

Some exciting clashes are coming up:

Ghana vs. Madagascar – Ghana looks to extend their Group I lead.
Cameroon vs. Eswatini – Cameroon aims to strengthen their qualification chances.
Nigeria vs. Rwanda – Nigeria hopes to climb up Group C after a recent win.

Final Thoughts

The African qualifiers are becoming more intense, with teams showing determination and skill. As the competition unfolds, fans across the continent eagerly await to see who will make it to the 2026 World Cup.