World Cup 2026: How does African qualifying for USA, Canada and Mexico work?

African qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup begins on 15 November, with the continent set to send a record number of nations to football’s newly expanded global showpiece.

In 2022 only five countries were present at the finals in Qatar, where Morocco made history by becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals.

However, nine African sides are guaranteed a spot at the next edition in Canada, Mexico and the United States,, a tournament that will feature 48 teams, up from 32.

There is even the chance for a 10th to qualify via an intercontinental play-off.

With potentially double the amount of teams securing a ticket to North America, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has changed the qualifying format.

What you need to know about a campaign that will last for two years.

CAF QUALIFICATION FORMAT FOR 2026 WORLD CUP

CAF has done away with its traditional preliminary round, in which lower-ranked nations were drawn into a series of two-legged ties, the winners of which progressed to a group stage.

The new plan was for all African nations to participate in a larger group stage – with the 54 entrants split into nine pools, each containing six teams.

However, CAF’s plans were somewhat spoiled by Eritrea’s late withdrawal from qualifying on 10 November, leaving Group E with only five teams.

Fixtures will be played home and away. The nine group winners will qualify for the World Cup.

The draw was conducted in July in Ivory Coast as listed:

Group A

Egypt,

Burkina Faso

Guinea-Bissau

Sierra Leone

Ethiopia,

Djibouti

Group B

Senegal

DR Congo

Mauritania

Togo,

Sudan

South Sudan

Group C

Nigeria

South Africa

Benin,

Zimbabwe

Rwanda,

Lesotho

Group D

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Angola,

Libya

Eswatini,

Mauritius

Group E

Morocco

Zambia

Congo

Tanzania

Niger

Eritrea (withdrew on 10 November)

Group F

Ivory Coast,

Gabon

Kenya

The Gambia

Burundi

Seychelles

Group G

Algeria

Guinea

Uganda

Mozambique

Botswana

Somalia

Group H

Tunisia

Equatorial Guinea

Namibia,

Malawi

Liberia

Sao Tome and Principe

Group I

Mali

Ghana

Madagascar

Central African Republic

Comoros,

Chad