FIFA/CM 2026: Africa will have at least nine representatives
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that Africa will be allocated at least nine spots for the 2026 World Cup during the opening of the 46th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.
At the CAF Assembly, which gathered leaders and delegates from member associations across Africa, Infantino stated, “In 2026, nine or ten African countries will participate in the World Cup,” emphasizing that this increase aligns with the expanded format of the FIFA World Cup.
Infantino noted that Africa is guaranteed nine places, up from the current five, while a tenth nation will compete in a playoff tournament with six teams to determine the last two qualifiers, thus increasing the potential for an additional spot for the continent.
He encouraged African nations to invest more in unlocking the potential of young footballers on the continent. “I urge all of you to continue investing in youth football, as these children, both girls and boys, will be the stars of tomorrow,” he said.
The president also mentioned that FIFA is considering increasing the number of African countries participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup to six.
Additionally, he pointed out that Morocco is set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030, making it the second African nation to host the tournament.
