2026 FIFA World Cup a breakout for African soccer 

CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL

Cape Verde coach Bubista led his team to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of nine African nations to reach the Round of 32. Ten African teams advanced to the tournament, double the number from 2022.

In this expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup, the number of African teams participating doubled from five in 2022 to 10 in this year’s tournament. Previously, no more than two African teams had made that leap in any World Cup.  

That increase has also come with a growth in success, with nine of those teams graduating from group play into the knockout rounds. Cape Verde, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco and South Africa all finished second in their respective groups, while Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Senegal were among the eight best third-placed finishers. 

“It’s a source of great pride that there are so many African teams qualified for the Round of 32,” DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre said after his side advanced. 

That should not come as a surprise. Morocco made history in 2022 by reaching the semifinals, as well as becoming the first African team to finish top of their first-round group. Senegal and Ghana reached the Round of 16. Two significant wins came in the group stage, with Cameroon beating Brazil and Tunisia beating defending champions France by 1-0 scores. 

This should bolster the argument that the Confederation of African Football, which has 54 members, just one less than the Union of European Football Associations, the largest confederation in FIFA, deserves more representation in the World Cup. While that participation doubled this year, Europe still had 16 teams. CONMEBOL, the South American governing body, has just 10 member countries but six are in the tournament.  

Through Wednesday, Morocco moved on after dismissing the Netherlands on penalty kicks, but four of nine CAF teams were eliminated, all by one-goal margins. South Africa lost to Canada 1-0. Norway downed Ivory Coast, and England bested DR Congo by 2-1 scores. 

Senegal was hard done by a late penalty call against Belgium 27 minutes into the 30 of extra time after drawing 2-2 in regulation. Senegal surged ahead 2-0 until giving up goals in the 86th and 89th minutes.  

Prior to this year, African teams have made the Round of 16 12 times. Morocco was the first in 1986. Cameroon was the first to make the quarterfinals in 1990. Senegal (2002), Ghana (2010), and Morocco (2022” equaled that achievement. Only Morocco has made the semifinals. 

Still to play are Algeria, who face Switzerland on Thursday. Egypt plays Australia, Ghana takes on Colombia, and Cape Verde takes on 2022 champion Argentina on Friday. 

Cape Verde, the second smallest country in the tournament with a population (535,000) about two-thirds that of Charlotte, have become the darlings of this World Cup. The Blue Sharks come from a group of 10 islands off the west coast of Africa and played their first national team match in 1978 but were able to hold pre-tournament favorite Spain to a 0-0 draw. In fact, all their first-round matches were stalemates – 2-2 against two-time World Cup champions Uruguay, and 0-0 against Saudi Arabia.  

“We are very happy to be able to participate in the World Cup. Football belongs to everyone. It does not belong only to wealthier countries,” said Cape Verde coach Pedro Leitão Brito, a former Cape Verdean player more commonly known as Bubista. 

The face of their team is 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha. His heroics against Spain saw his popularity on Instagram grow from less than 50,000 to well over 5 million. 

They are the little engine that could and will take their spirit into their next match against Argentina and Lionel Messi. 
 

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