Egypt Seal FIFA World Cup 2026 Spot with Victory Over Djibouti

Egypt became the latest African team to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a convincing 3-0 victory over Djibouti in Casablanca. The win ensured the Pharaohs top spot in Group A with one match still left to play. Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah was once again the standout performer, scoring twice, while Ibrahim Adel added the third goal. This triumph not only sealed Egypt’s return to the world stage but also made them the third African nation, after Morocco and Tunisia, to book a place in the North American finals. Salah’s contribution has been remarkable throughout the campaign, with nine goals since the qualifiers began two years ago.

Historically, Egypt have featured in three previous World Cups but were unable to qualify for the most recent edition in Qatar in 2022. During that tournament, Morocco made history by reaching the semifinals, while Tunisia were eliminated in the group stage. Egypt’s return will mark another chance for the Pharaohs to prove their strength on football’s biggest platform.

In other African qualifiers, Ghana delivered an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic in Meknes. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey opened the scoring, with further goals coming from Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, captain Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana. The Black Stars had a slender 1-0 lead at halftime but exploded in the second half to complete the rout. This result leaves Ghana needing only one point from their final home fixture against Comoros to officially secure qualification.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde moved a step closer to a historic first-ever World Cup appearance. In Tripoli, they came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Libya, maintaining their lead in Group D. Known as the Blue Sharks, Cape Verde now have 20 points after nine rounds, sitting two points ahead of Cameroon. The island nation, with a population of around 550,000 off the coast of Senegal, can seal qualification by defeating Eswatini at home in Praia.

Cameroon, who boast a record eight World Cup appearances for an African team, remain in pursuit. They kept their hopes alive with a 2-0 away win over Mauritius, with Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo among the scorers. However, the victory was hard-fought, as they only sealed the result in the 92nd minute. Cameroon must now win their final home game against Angola in Yaounde to stand a chance of automatic qualification. If Cape Verde top the group, Cameroon’s path would depend on being among the four best second-placed teams to enter the playoff round scheduled for November.

The playoff system involves a mini-tournament with semifinals and a final among selected African runners-up. The winner then advances to the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026, featuring six teams from different confederations, where two additional World Cup spots will be contested.

The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. With Africa’s qualifying campaign intensifying, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia have already booked their tickets, while Ghana, Cape Verde, and Cameroon remain among the leading contenders battling for the remaining coveted slots.