Africa will have a record 10 representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the DR Congo national football team qualified.
The Leopards secured the continent’s final slot after defeating the Nigerian national football team in the African play-offs and going on to beat the Jamaican national football team 1-0 in the intercontinental play-offs on Tuesday night.
They now join nine other African nations that had already booked their places at the expanded tournament.
For Nigeria, the failure to qualify marks a second consecutive absence from the global showpiece.
The 2026 edition will be historic for the continent, as it will be the first time Africa sends 10 teams to the World Cup, highlighting its growing influence in global football.
Full List of African Teams:
DR Congo
Senegal
Morocco
Egypt
Ghana
Algeria
Tunisia
Côte d’Ivoire
Cape Verde
South Africa
The increase in Africa’s representation follows FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, creating more opportunities for countries across the continent to qualify.
