Africa Dominates Expanded World Cup with Record Ten Nations Advancing

The 48‑team men’s FIFA World Cup has seen an unprecedented African presence, with a record ten African nations qualifying. Nine of those teams progressed to the knockout stage, outpacing Asia where only two of nine advanced.

Cape Verde, making its tournament debut, impressed by reaching the knockout round and is set to face defending champion Argentina. Players and officials highlighted the progress, with Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez noting the strong performance of African sides, and French‑born coach Sébastien Desabre observing that African football has become better organized and more competitive over the past 15 years.

The surge reflects the broader impact of expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, offering more African countries the chance to compete at the highest level.