World Cup 2026: Can Sub-Saharan African teams surpass their North African rivals?

Africa's World Cup achievements peaked at Qatar 2022, when Morocco became the first team from the continent to reach the semifinals. Even reaching the quarterfinals had been a notable milestone; the Atlas Lions were only the fourth African side to do so.

Though Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana have also reached the last eight, North Africa still dominates the continent’s overall record at both the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Egypt is the most successful AFCON side with seven titles, while three of the five African teams with the most World Cup appearances are Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.

Here is a look at the chances of sub-Saharan teams to outperform their northern rivals at the tournament starting on June 11.

Senegal

World Cup appearances: Four (2002, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best finish: Quarterfinals
Overall record: 12 matches: 5 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses; 16 goals scored, 17 conceded
FIFA ranking: 14
Prediction: Eliminated in the quarterfinals

Senegal head to the 2026 World Cup with a burning sense of injustice. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped them of the AFCON title, ruling that players and staff leaving the pitch during the final in January caused the match to be abandoned, and subsequently awarded the championship to Morocco 3-0.

In 2002, Senegal stunned the world by reaching the quarterfinals on their World Cup debut. More than two decades later, expectations are sky-high — they are even considered the most hyped African side, ahead of Morocco.

Their 26-man squad depth is considered their greatest strength, but their star power is also the envy of rivals. Sadio Mane remains Senegal’s finest player. Midfield anchor Pape Gueye, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly could slot into almost any side at the tournament.

All three were born in France, and they are eyeing a rematch with the two-time world champions. A 1-0 victory over defending champion France at the 2002 World Cup put Senegal on the football map. In the group stage this time, they face Didier Deschamps’ side again in New York on June 16. Senegal is also grouped with Iraq and Norway.

Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw said: “It’s always a pleasure to play France. It is a country we know well. If I lose even one second of belief that I can win the World Cup with Senegal, I will resign immediately.”

Ghana

World Cup appearances: Five (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026)
Best finish: Quarterfinals
Overall record: 15 matches: 5 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses; 18 goals scored, 23 conceded
FIFA ranking: 74
Prediction: Eliminated in the quarterfinals

Ghana has missed only one World Cup since their debut in 2006. Four years later, they became the third African team to reach the quarterfinals at the 2010 tournament in Germany.

The road to this edition has been rocky, with a late coaching change. Veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz replaced Otto Addo after a poor run of results. Addo, a former Ghana international born in Germany, led the team at Qatar 2022, but failing to qualify for the most recent AFCON and heavy defeats in four friendlies in November and March led to his dismissal in early April.

This will be the fifth consecutive World Cup for 73-year-old Queiroz. He previously coached South Africa and Egypt, as well as Real Madrid and as an assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Group L, featuring Panama, England and Croatia, is considered a ‘group of death’. Still, with Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) leading a powerful attack, Ghana is confident of progressing.

Queiroz said: “I think this country has huge potential. It is a nation of footballers.” However, Ghana will be without striker Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham) due to injury. Kudus had become the heartbeat and key man in the team’s two recent successful qualifying campaigns.

Ivory Coast

World Cup appearances: Four (2006, 2010, 2014, 2026)
Best finish: Group stage
Overall record: 9 matches: 3 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses; 13 goals scored, 14 conceded
FIFA ranking: 34
Prediction: Eliminated in the quarterfinals

Ivory Coast returns to the World Cup after a 12-year absence — a long stretch since legends Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba retired. The team has undergone a lengthy rebuild, but they have won two AFCON titles since their last World Cup appearance.

Their youthful attack, led by teenage striker Yan Diomande, along with Simon Adingra and Amad Diallo (Manchester United), will be key to success. When hosting AFCON two years ago, Ivory Coast narrowly avoided elimination in the group stage, then promoted assistant Emerse Fae to head coach for the final group match and went on to win the title.

Fae said: “I believe Ivory Coast has the potential to achieve something special — why not target the final?” The team opens the tournament against Curacao, Ecuador and defending champion Germany.

Cape Verde

World Cup appearances: One (2026)
Best finish: None
Overall record: None
FIFA ranking: 69
Prediction: Eliminated in the group stage

Cape Verde, one of the debutants, with a population of around 600,000, is the third-smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. They only debuted at AFCON in 2013, but then reached the quarterfinals — a feat repeated in 2023.

The task ahead — with a squad largely made up of diaspora players — is daunting, as they are grouped with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and European champion Spain.

Coach Bubista, named African Coach of the Year for 2025, said: “We have always been aware of our talent, but not always believed it could take us further than what we have achieved. So it takes courage to face any opponent. The first step to success is truly believing in your potential. In other words, we changed the mindset of the players.”

South Africa

World Cup appearances: Four (1998, 2002, 2010, 2026)
Best finish: Group stage
Overall record: 9 matches: 2 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses; 11 goals scored, 16 conceded
FIFA ranking: 60
Prediction: Eliminated in the round of 32

After a promising start with a World Cup berth in 1998, South Africa’s fortunes have declined over the past 16 years. Their first appearance in the finals since 2010 is long overdue for a nation hoping for a strong domestic football revival as they head to North America.

South African club Mamelodi Sundowns recently won the African Champions League. Eight of their players are in the Bafana Bafana squad, alongside eight from Orlando Pirates — the domestic league champions who edged Sundowns by one point.

Belgian coach Hugo Broos said: “I can say we have players from the best teams of the season. Those guys have a lot of experience at a high level. I am certainly happy that Sundowns won the Champions League, because I was afraid that if they lost, I would have very disappointed players. Now they all have that confidence, and that helps a lot.” South Africa is in another so-called ‘group of death’, with Czech Republic, South Korea and co-host Mexico — whom they face in the tournament opener.

DR Congo

World Cup appearances: Two (1974, 2026)
Best finish: Group stage
Overall record: 3 matches: 0 wins, 0 draws, 3 losses; 0 goals scored, 14 conceded
FIFA ranking: 46
Prediction: Eliminated in the quarterfinals

DR Congo’s only previous World Cup appearance came as Zaire at the 1974 tournament in West Germany — making them the first sub-Saharan African side to qualify. As reigning continental champions, their 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia at the time did little to help African football’s reputation.

Much has changed since then. Congo’s players will arrive in North America with a FIFA ranking higher than three of the other five sub-Saharan teams. They had to go through two playoffs to qualify — the African qualifiers saw them eliminate Cameroon and Nigeria, before extra-time victory over Jamaica in an intercontinental playoff.

Most of the squad are Europe-born players from Belgium, France or Switzerland, alongside London-born Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was once called up by England but never capped due to injury. French coach Sebastien Desabre said: “We are immensely proud because a whole generation could not see their national team at the World Cup, but now they will see them there.”