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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.

Osimhen brace powers Nigeria to crash Gabon and keep World Cup hopes alive

After a valiant fight by the Panthers in regulation time, the Super Eagles ultimately emerged victorious from this 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-offs semi-final battle in neutral Morocco on Thursday. Eric Chelle's men needed extra time to win 4-1 at Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium with the Galatasaray forward grabbing a double. They remain in contention to go to the global competition but still have other hurdles to plain.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Arsenal	8	8	0	0	23	4	19	24	W W W W W
2	Bayern Munich	8	7	0	1	22	8	14	21	W W W L W
3	Liverpool	8	6	0	2	20	8	12	18	W W W L W
4	Tottenham	8	5	2	1	17	7	10	17	W W W L W
5	Barcelona	8	5	1	2	22	14	8	16	W W W L D

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Arsenal

W
W
W
W
W

Bayern Munich

W
W
W
L
W

Liverpool

W
W
W
L
W

Tottenham

W
W
W
L
W

Barcelona

W
W
W
L
D

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most AFCON titles?

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.

How many teams are in the AFCON?

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.

Who has made the most AFCON appearances ever?

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.

Who is the all-time top scorer of the AFCON?

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.

Who is the oldest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?

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.

Who is the youngest player ever in the AFCON and how old was he?

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.

Which famous players have played in the AFCON?

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.

Which famous managers have managed in the AFCON?

Charles Gyamfi, Hassan Shehata, Herve Renard, and Avram Grant are some of the most famous coaches to have led their respective teams at AFCON.