+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles

World Cup Qualification CAF

World Cup Qualification CAF Overview

Lewa, Donnarumma & 11 stars at risk of missing the World Cup

The final international window before the end of the 2025-26 club season is here. For most of the globe's traditional powerhouses, this month is about finetuning ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. But not every team has the luxury of such forward planning, with several big-hitters still yet to punch their ticket to the tournament.

World Cup 2026 draw: Everything you need to know

The latest information on the World Cup 2026 draw, including the date, what to expect in terms of teams and pots, and how to watch.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown Clock Is Unveiled In Mexico City

FIFA Play-Off Tournament: Everything you need to know

FIFA Play-Off Tournament — how it works, who qualifies, seeding, format, schedule and other key points you should know.

World Cup trophy Christian Pulisic Edson Alvarez

World Cup 2026: Full list of qualified teams

GOAL breaks down all the confirmed qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, plus the teams who could soon be on their way.

Nigeria head coach accuses DR Congo staff of 'doing voodoo'

Nigeria manager Eric Chelle has accused rivals on DR Congo’s coaching staff of “doing voodoo” during a fiery penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup. With emotions running high towards the end of an encounter that finished 1-1 after extra-time, Chelle has insinuated that Congo turned to dark arts in order to prevail.

📽️ | Mbeumo devastated after Cameroon's World Cup dream ends

Bryan Mbeumo cut a heartbroken figure after Cameroon's World Cup hopes collapsed in dramatic fashion, with the Manchester United star storming off alone after a stoppage-time defeat to DR Congo. The Indomitable Lions suffered a crushing 1-0 loss in the CAF play-offs, ending their bid to reach the 2026 tournament and leaving their talisman visibly emotional in the rain.

World Cup Qualification CAF, fixtures & results

Standings

Form

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Strasbourg	6	5	1	0	11	5	6	16	W W W W D
2	Rakow Czestochowa	6	4	2	0	9	2	7	14	W W W D D
3	AEK Athens	6	4	1	1	14	7	7	13	W W W D W
4	Sparta Prag	6	4	1	1	10	3	7	13	W W W D L
5	Rayo Vallecano	6	4	1	1	13	7	6	13	W W L W D

USMNT vs Belgium Predictions: Balogun to help the hosts to victory

See more betting articles

Frequently asked questions

: Egypt are the team who have won the most AFCON titles in history, with seven to their name. It was in 1957, the inaugural edition of AFCON, where Egypt attained glory. They would go on to add three more trophies before the turn of the century (1957, 1986, 1998), before completing a threepeat in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
: The first-ever AFCON featured just three teams. Between 1968 and 1990, eight teams featured in the tournament. An expansion in 1992 saw 12 teams feature in AFCON, and 16 from 1998. The latest expansion in 2019, though, sees 24 teams fight for glory.
: Cameroon legend Rigobert Song set the record of most AFCON appearances in 2010, playing in his 36th game in the tournament. That record was equalled by Ghanaian icon Andre Ayew in 2024.
: Cameroon icon Samuel Eto'o leads the all-time goalscoring charts with an impressive 18 goals over the course of 29 matches during six different tournaments.
: Egypt's Essam El Hadary is the oldest player ever to play in AFCON at the age of 44 years and 21 days. He achieved this feat in 2017 during Egypt's 2-1 loss to Cameroon.
: Former Ghana defender Joseph Odoi made his AFCON debut in 1984 at the age of 15 years and 164 days, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the African Cup of Nations.
: Samuel Eto'o, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sadio Mane, Roger Milla, Ahmed Hassan, George Weah, etc, are some of the biggest names to have featured in the African Cup of Nations.
: Charles Gyamfi, Hassan Shehata, Herve Renard, and Avram Grant are some of the most famous coaches to have led their respective teams at AFCON.