African Teams Falter at World Cup 2026 as Morocco and Egypt Remain Only Survivors

Nine of the ten African nations that qualified for the 2026 World Cup reached the round of 16, but only Morocco and Egypt have advanced further. Morocco, after a strong showing at the 2022 tournament, now faces France in the quarter‑finals, while Egypt will meet Argentina in the last‑16.

Algeria’s campaign ended abruptly with a 2‑0 defeat to Switzerland, prompting calls for coach Vladimir Petković’s dismissal and criticism of the team’s lack of a stable playing identity. The broader African disappointment reflects the gap between early optimism and the harsh reality of competing against the world’s top sides.