2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Africa: Group Standings and Fixtures Revealed
Fifa World Cup qualifiers for Africa have kicked off with a bang, showcasing some thrilling matches and surprising results. As the race to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup intensifies, here is a breakdown of the current group standings and upcoming fixtures.
On matchday three, Nigeria managed to secure a 1-1 draw with South Africa, keeping Group C wide open. Meanwhile, Morocco defeated Zambia 2-1, maintaining their lead in Group E. Reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire, also clinched a 1-0 victory over Gabon to claim the number one spot in Group F.
The road to the World Cup is a challenging one for African teams, with each group winner earning a direct qualification while the four best second-placed teams will compete in a playoff for a chance to secure a spot in the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The fixtures for the CAF World Cup Qualifiers have been set, with matches taking place between June 15th and 21st. The remaining matchdays will be spread out across March, September, and October 2025.
Some of the standout fixtures include Djibouti vs Ethiopia, Congo DR vs Togo, and Mauritania vs Senegal on June 9th. On June 10th, fans can look forward to Burkina Faso vs Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt, and Benin vs Nigeria, among others. The action continues on June 11th with matches such as South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Lesotho vs Rwanda, and Angola vs Cameroon.
In a new format introduced by Caf, all 54 African nations will participate in a larger group stage, divided into nine pools with six teams each. The group winners will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the best second-placed teams will compete in playoffs to secure a spot in the intercontinental play-off tournament.
Despite some challenges, the excitement and anticipation surrounding the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa are palpable. As teams battle it out on the field, football fans across the continent eagerly await to see who will emerge victorious and earn a ticket to the prestigious tournament.