Morocco, Egypt, others: African countries to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

As the autumn chill settles over the United States, a continent away in Africa’s sun-baked stadiums, the dream of 2026 begins to take shape. The expanded FIFA World Cup to 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, promises Africa’s biggest representation yet: nine direct slots plus a playoff berth, up from five in 2022. However, only three nations have etched their names into the golden ticket: Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. These qualifiers aren’t mere footnotes; they’re testaments to tactical evolution, youthful vigor, and the unyielding spirit of a continent starved for global stages. With 221 matches yielding 547 goals at a blistering 2.48 per game (per CAF stats as of October 9), the race rages on, Ivory Coast and Ghana teeter on the brink, while giants like Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria claw for survival. But for now, let’s celebrate the trailblazers: three North African powerhouses whose paths to North America echo a rich legacy of resilience and reinvention.

Morocco’s Atlas Lions

Morocco’s qualification feels like destiny scripted by the gods of the Atlas Mountains. As co-hosts of the 2030 tournament (with Spain and Portugal), the Atlas Lions secured their berth in Group B with surgical precision, clinching top spot on September 6 with a 1-0 grind over Zambia in Marrakech. Hakim Ziyech’s 72nd-minute curler, his third qualifier goal, sealed a campaign of unyielding dominance: five wins, three draws, zero losses, and a +9 goal difference from 12 goals scored (1.5 per game) against just three conceded. Under Walid Regragui, Morocco’s 4-2-3-1 evolved from their seismic 2022 World Cup semi-final run, blending Achraf Hakimi’s marauding runs with Sofyan Amrabat’s midfield steel. Their xG differential of +5.2 shows efficiency, converting 62% of chances, a leap from 2022’s profligacy. With 18 points, Morocco’s path was paved by upsets like a 2-1 over Congo DR, but it’s their defensive fortress (0.4 goals conceded/game) that evokes ghosts of that Qatar miracle. As Regragui quipped post-qualifier, “This is just the appetizer for 2030.” For a nation that reached Africa’s first World Cup semi in 2022, 2026 is redemption reloaded, a chance to conquer the continent’s conquerors on soil they helped shape.

Carthage Eagles of Tunisia

If Morocco’s run was poetic inevitability, Tunisia’s was a masterclass in quiet ferocity. The Eagles of Carthage soared through Group D, locking qualification on October 8 with a 2-0 blanking of São Tomé and Príncipe in Tunis, where Hannibal Mejbri’s brace (his second and third goals of the campaign) ignited celebrations. Wahbi Khazri’s swansong, two assists in qualifiers, capped a 6-1-1 record, yielding 19 points and a staggering +14 GD from 17 goals (2.1/game) against three conceded. Jalel Kadri’s 3-5-2 hybrid, emphasizing midfield overloads (58% possession average), dismantled foes: A 4-0 rout of Namibia and 3-1 over Liberia showcased Ellyes Skhiri’s pivot prowess (1.8 interceptions/game). Tunisia’s conversion rate hit 68%, feasting on set-pieces (35% of goals), while their xGA of 0.7/game rivals Europe’s elite. Absent since 2006, this marks their sixth World Cup, but first in the expanded era. Mejbri, the 22-year-old Manchester United loanee, embodies renewal. In a group where runners-up Botswana faltered at 10 points, Tunisia’s consistency (unbeaten in seven) signals a team primed to unsettle giants, blending Carthage’s ancient grit with modern guile.

The Pharaohs of Egypt

Then there’s Egypt, the Pharaohs rising from the Nile’s cradle with a roar that shook Casablanca. On October 8, Mohamed Salah’s brace, curling free-kick in the 19th and clinical finish in the 67th, propelled a 3-0 demolition of Djibouti, clinching Group A’s crown with 18 points from 5W-3D-0L and a +12 GD (15 goals scored at 1.9/game, 3 conceded). Rui Vitória’s 4-3-3 unleashed Trezeguet’s wing terror (three assists) and Emam Ashour’s midfield vision (2.3 key passes/game), yielding a +6.1 xG differential and 65% conversion. Standouts included a 4-0 over Sierra Leone and 2-1 thriller vs Ethiopia, but Djibouti’s capitulation, their ninth loss, was poetic justice. Egypt’s eighth straight World Cup (record for Africa) comes amid turmoil: Absent from 2022 after a penalty shootout loss to Senegal, they’ve rebounded with Africa’s best attack (1.9 goals/game). Salah, 33 and Liverpool’s talisman, now has five qualifier goals. With runners-up Guinea-Bissau adrift at 11 points, Egypt’s press (1.4 turnovers forced/game) positions them as dark horses, ready to channel 2018’s verve.

RELATED STORIES

Bafana Bafana’s dilemma: Statistical shadows over South Africa’s 2026 World Cup dream

Super Eagles’ 2026 W/Cup qualification: Why Nigeria’s ticket lies on Bafana Bafana’s outcome

Conclusion

These three, Morocco (18 pts), Tunisia (19 pts), Egypt (18 pts); represent Africa’s vanguard, their campaigns a mix of tactical maturity and statistical supremacy. Morocco’s defensive lockdown (0.4 conceded/game), Tunisia’s midfield mastery (58% possession), and Egypt’s attacking alchemy (65% conversion) outpace the continental average (2.48 goals/match). Yet, the plot thickens: Six slots remain, with Ivory Coast (16 pts in Group F, 70% qual odds) needing a Comoros draw for glory, and Ghana (15 pts in Group I) one point from sealing via Central African Republic. Senegal (14 pts, Group L) and Nigeria (11, Group C) teeter, while Cameroon’s playoff fate looms. For Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, though, 2026 isn’t a destination; it’s a declaration. In the shadow of the Atlas, the Nile, and Carthage’s ruins, these lions, eagles, and pharaohs march north, not as underdogs, but as harbingers of a continent’s rise. The World Cup awaits; Africa arrives.