World Cup 2026: Africa awarded four extra slots

After FIFA members voted to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in January 2017, basically all the six confederations namely, CAF(Africa), CONCACAF (Caribbean, North and Central America), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), AFC(Asia) and UEFA(Europe) will have at least one team featuring in the tournament with no inter-confederation play-offs prior to the playoff tournament.

As it has been the case, the hosts of the World Cup will automatically qualify.

Below is a breakdown for placement for each confederation:

Africa-9 (previously were 5)

Asia-8 (previously were 4or 5)

Europe-16 (previously were 13)

North, Central America & Caribbean (previously were 3 or 4)

Oceania- 1 (previously was 0 or 1)

South America-6 (previously were 4 or 5)

Now that Africa’s number of participants has been increased, time is now ripe for African countries not only to participate in this envied continental showpiece but show some excellence as well.

African football has grown over the years, and it is evident given the multitude of home(Africa) players who play for renowned leagues in the world- Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga etc.

Since tourney’s inception in 1930, only 13 African countries have ever participated in World Cup; the number is low considering there are 54 countries in the continent.

Cameroon is the most successive in this showpiece with seven appearances, Nigeria and Algeria have appeared five and four times respectively. Morocco and Tunisia brag for partaking in the event four times also. Ivory Coast, Ghana and South Africa have registered for the global showpiece three times.

Egypt, who are the first African country to honor Word Cup, have participated twice. Zaire (DR Congo), Senegal, Angola and Togo have feature only once.

Senegal, Cameroon and Ghana have managed to go up to quarter final stages. Others are eliminated in the group stages.

Kenya has never made it World Cup.