African football has undergone a remarkable transformation on the biggest stage of all. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, nine of the continent's 10 teams advanced from the group stage — a stunning contrast to 2018, when all five African nations were eliminated in the groups, claiming just three wins from a possible 15 matches.
Only Tunisia failed to progress this time. Cape Verde, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and South Africa advanced as group runners-up, while Algeria, DR Congo, Ghana, and Senegal came through in third place. The results represent a continent-wide step forward, not merely the exploits of one or two exceptional nations.
Morocco's blueprint for success
Much of the credit belongs to the groundwork laid by Morocco, whose run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup — defeating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before losing to France — showed what sustained investment could achieve. Before Qatar, only Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010 had reached a World Cup quarter-final from Africa.
Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong told BBC Sport Africa that Morocco had charted a course others could follow. "Morocco created a blueprint of how it can be done, which is years and years of investing in grassroot football and academies," he said. "The facilities they have, the consistency throughout their age groups, I think that's the only blueprint you can follow."
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe attributed the broader continental improvement to "hard work and investments in youth football development, coaching and professional football leagues" across Africa.
The format helped — but it does not tell the whole story
The expanded 48-team format played a role in easing the path. With 16 traditionally stronger nations spread across 12 groups rather than eight, and third-placed teams also advancing, the knockout round now features 32 sides. Yet the format alone does not explain why Africa thrived while Asia struggled.
Asian teams played 27 group games and managed just three victories, averaging 0.67 points per game. African nations played 30 matches, won 10, and averaged 1.33 points per game. In five decisive head-to-head group matches between African and Asian nations, Asia failed to win a single one, losing four.
The consequences in South Korea have been severe. After a shock defeat by South Africa in their final group match ended their campaign, South Korea President Lee Jae Myung called the result "a failure of organisation and personnel" and demanded a formal investigation. Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned within hours.
European leagues and the development gap
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami pointed to the defining structural difference. "Because African players compete in the major European leagues," he said, explaining the gulf in performance. "The most important thing for Jordanian football, if it is to have a greater chance of achieving results, is to have players competing in stronger and more competitive leagues."
The numbers reinforce his argument. Morocco had 20 of their 26-man squad playing in Europe, with 15 in a top-five league. DR Congo fielded 24 Europe-based players, while even Egypt — the African side with the fewest European-based players — had six. Jordan, by contrast, had just one player in Europe: forward Musa Al-Taamari, at French club Rennes.
Iraq and Uzbekistan each had three players in Europe; Iran had four. Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro was blunt after his side lost all three group games: "Other than Japan, Australia and maybe Iran, every team needs to improve."
Africa's road ahead
Morocco, now ranked sixth in the FIFA world rankings — one place above the Netherlands — enter the last 16 as African champions, though their Africa Cup of Nations title came only after the Confederation of African Football overturned the result of the final following Senegal's controversial walk-off. South Africa were eliminated in the round of 32 by a late goal from Canada.
Defending champions Argentina, who face Cape Verde on Friday, sit in a bracket section containing four African teams and could meet one in each round on the way to the semi-finals. Algeria face Switzerland and Ghana meet Colombia, presenting a genuine prospect of an all-African last-16 tie. For the continent, the question is no longer whether Africa belongs at this level — it is how deep the run can go.
