Half a century after Pelé's famous prediction that an African nation would lift the World Cup before the year 2000, the question refuses to die: could 2026 finally be the year the continent breaks through?

A new episode of the BBC World Service podcast More than the Score brings together former Democratic Republic of Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker to assess the chances of the ten African teams competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, spread across venues in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Morocco's legacy and Senegal's ambition

Much of the conversation centres on the seismic impact of Morocco's run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup — a milestone that reshaped expectations across the continent. The panel also singles out Senegal as one of Africa's strongest hopes this time around.

Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye speaks directly to the podcast, making clear that qualification alone is not the goal.