Africa's World Cup Qualifiers Enter Midway Point with Expanded Opportunities

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process offers Africa record representation, but controversies and imbalances challenge fairness.

Africa is set to have a record nine to ten teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to the tournament's expanded 48-team format.
The African qualifiers, currently in gameweek five of nine, feature nine groups, with winners advancing directly and top runners-up entering playoffs.
Group E faces challenges due to Eritrea's withdrawal and Congo-Brazzaville's suspension, reducing the group to four teams and creating competitive imbalances.
Equatorial Guinea's results were overturned early in the campaign due to player ineligibility but have been reinstated following a nationality switch for Emilio Nsue.
Smaller nations like Rwanda, Sudan, and Comoros are emerging as potential first-time qualifiers, reflecting the expanded opportunities in the new format.