2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Morocco Makes History as First African Nation to Qualify

Historic Expansion and Current Progress

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark a historic expansion with 48 teams qualifying for the tournament, up from the previous total of 32 teams.

Recent Qualifying Highlights

Morocco has made history by becoming the first African nation to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup, following an emphatic 5-0 victory over Niger in Rabat. The Atlas Lions, who were history-makers at the last World Cup, have guaranteed their position by securing top spot in Group E.

In South America, recent matches have been decisive, with Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay securing their positions following Venezuela’s 3-0 loss to Argentina. These teams join Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador, who had previously qualified.

European Qualification Process

The European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are currently underway, running from March to November 2025, with play-offs for the remaining finals places scheduled for March 2026. A total of 16 European nations will compete at the 48-team FIFA World Cup in North America, with the European qualifiers continuing through March 2025 and play-offs in March 2026.

African Campaign

Africa will send a record nine teams to the 2026 World Cup, with a potential tenth spot possible. The competition features numerous Premier League stars, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, and Tottenham Hotspur duo Mohammed Kudus and Yves Bissouma. The competition has been particularly intense in groups featuring matchups between Mali and Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, and Senegal and DR Congo.

Looking Ahead

The final draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in December 2025 at a location to be determined in the United States. The tournament itself will kick off on June 11, 2026, across three North American countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.