As the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series draws to a close across Africa on Tuesday, three automatic qualification spots remain up for grabs.
So far, six nations have sealed their tickets to the global showpiece: Ghana, Tunisia, Morocco, Cape Verde, Algeria, and Egypt.
In Group B, qualification remains firmly in the hands of Senegal. The Teranga Lions, with 21 points, need just a win at home against Mauritania to confirm their spot in next year’s finals.
Group C remains one of the most competitive, with Benin Republic, South Africa, and Nigeria all still in contention. Benin need only a draw against Nigeria to qualify, South Africa must defeat Rwanda to stand a chance, while Nigeria require a win and hope South Africa drop points to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Over in Group F, Ivory Coast lead the standings with 23 points and will secure qualification with a home win against Kenya. However, any slip could allow Gabon, who sit just one point behind, to leapfrog them if they defeat Burundi in Libreville.
Africa will have nine automatic slots at the 2026 World Cup — the continent’s highest ever. Additionally, the four best runners-up from the qualifying groups will progress to a playoff round. The winner of that mini-tournament will then face teams from Asia, South America, Oceania, or CONCACAF for one of the final global qualification spots.
