African nations achieve historic nine-team knockout round at 2026 World Cup

For the first time in World Cup history, all African teams that qualified for the 2026 tournament advanced from the group stage to the round of 16, with only Tunisia failing to reach the knockout phase. South Africa’s campaign ended in extra time, losing 0‑1 to host nation Canada, while the continent’s other representatives – Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Algeria and Ghana – all secured progression and delivered notable performances.

The South African side, coached by Hugo Broos, fell to a late goal by Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio, marking the best result in the nation’s World Cup history despite the defeat. Across the tournament, African squads demonstrated increased depth and tactical maturity, underscoring a rising competitive parity with traditional football powers.