2026 World Cup: How nations from around the world can qualify
The race for the 2026 World Cup has begun in earnest. Here's how it's looking around the globe.
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Ivory Coast, Morocco score WC qualifying wins
African champions Ivory Coast and World Cup semifinalists Morocco both won important points in World Cup qualification on Friday but Nigeria were held at home by South Africa and are still to win a match in the 2026 preliminaries.
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Algeria and Senegal both suffered disappointing results in Africa's qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday.
Tunisia grab win as Africa's WC qualifiers resume
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The biggest African sides looking to take major steps towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Europa hero Lookman headlines Nigeria WCQ squad
Europa League champion Ademola Lookman headlines the Nigeria squad for the Super Eagles upcoming World Cup qualifiers, along with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
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WCQ - CAF Ladder
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +9 | 10 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | +1 | 6 |
| Burkina Faso | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +2 | 5 |
| Sierra Leone | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
| Ethiopia | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -3 | 3 |
| Djibouti | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -8 | 1 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Sudan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 10 |
| Senegal | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +5 | 8 |
| Congo DR | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 7 |
| Togo | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| South Sudan | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -7 | 2 |
| Mauritania | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 1 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Rwanda | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 7 |
| South Africa | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 7 |
| Benin | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 7 |
| Lesotho | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Nigeria | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Cameroon | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +6 | 8 |
| Libya | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 7 |
| Cape Verde Islands | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Angola | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | +1 | 6 |
| Mauritius | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -5 | 0 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Morocco | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +9 | 9 |
| Niger | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
| Tanzania | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Zambia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| Congo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -11 | 0 |
| Eritrea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Ivory Coast | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +12 | 10 |
| Gabon | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 9 |
| Burundi | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 7 |
| Kenya | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +4 | 5 |
| Gambia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Seychelles | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -20 | 0 |
| Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Algeria | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 9 |
| Mozambique | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 9 |
| Botswana | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +1 | 6 |
| Guinea | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Uganda | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Somalia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -6 | 0 |
| Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Tunisia | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 10 |
| Namibia | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +5 | 8 |
| Liberia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| Malawi | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +1 | 6 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 3 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -9 | 0 |
| Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Comoros | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 9 |
| Ghana | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 9 |
| Madagascar | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| Mali | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 5 |
| Central African Republic | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| Chad | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -8 | 0 |