Nine African countries qualify directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The number of spots for African teams has increased from previous tournaments due to the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams. The qualifying process involved 54 African nations, divided into nine groups, with the winner of each group earning a direct spot in the World Cup. The nine African countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup include traditional football powers and some newcomers. Confirmed qualifiers mentioned include Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, and Algeria. Additionally, some other African nations like Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria are still fighting for potential play-off spots for another chance to qualify.