Best African team at 2026 FIFA World Cup prediction: Can Morocco live up to the hype?

Inspired by Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, we have made a “Best African team at 2026 FIFA World Cup prediction”, where we analyse if any African team could go further than Morocco in the next tournament co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.

Mighty Morocco to make history again?

The landscape of global football changed forever in 2022 when Morocco shattered the glass ceiling for African nations. Before that tournament, no African team had ever reached a World Cup semi-final. Walid Regragui’s side rewrote history by claiming some of the biggest scalps in the game.

Morocco’s path was a masterclass in resilience, having topped a group featuring 2018 finalists Croatia, a top-ranked Belgium, whom they dismantled 2-0, and a spirited Canada side. The knockout rounds cemented their legendary status, as they eliminated former champions Spain on penalties and sent Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal packing with a 1-0 quarter-final victory. While they eventually fell 2-0 to France in the semi-final and took fourth place, they proved that African tactical discipline could stifle the world’s best.

Now at 2026 World Cup with the tournament expanded to 48 teams and Africa now boasting nine guaranteed spots, the continent is no longer just aiming for the knockouts, they have belief that they can win the trophy.

How many African teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup will include the new expanded format of 48 teams for the first time, up from 32. This means that nine African teams qualifed automatically for the tournament, up from five in Qatar, with a 10th qualifying through the intercontinental play-off.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has changed its qualifying format as a result, with 54 teams split into nine groups of six, although it must be noted that Eritrea pulled out. Each team that finished top of each group qualified for the 2026 World Cup, with four best losers making it to a playoff for the one slot of who represented Africa at the intercontinental play-off.

Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia secured their spots through the automatic qualification rounds, while DR Congo joined them by winning one of the two slots from the intercontinental play-off.

Best African team at 2026 FIFA World Cup prediction – African Winner (E/W) odds

If any African team so much as reaches the final in 2026, they will already have broken new ground, while also producing a winning result in the each-way World Cup outrights market. The odds are, of course, very long – but every World Cup edition, without fail, has seen a surprise package emerge to take on the very best in the knockout phase.

Morocco (40/1)

Perhaps no surprises here, as Morocco have the shortest odds of any African team to win the 2026 World Cup. The Atlas Lions’s run to the semi-finals in 2022 is a clear contributory factor, while they also arrive at 2026 as the official Africa Cup of Nations holders — awarded the title retrospectively by CAF despite losing the actual final to Senegal on the pitch.

The 2026 World Cup draw handed Morocco an immediate statement opportunity, as they had to face Brazil in their opening game in Group C, marking Mohamed Ouahbi's first competitive match in charge since taking over from Walid Regragui, and the Atlas Lions showed the world that their run four years ago was no fluke, as they were unlucky to play a 1-1 draw.

Famously, the competition is still yet to see a winner outside of Europe or South America since its first iteration in 1930, so it would be a huge upset to see an African team win it, as evidenced by the long odds here. However, Morocco's performance against Brazil has strengthened belief that it could be this year.

Senegal (125/1)

The current African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holders – at least based on results from the game – Senegal are the second-highest-rated African team with the bookies. The Lions of Teranga have qualified for the previous two World Cups, and are making a fourth appearance at the global tournament overall.

Senegal's first berth in the World Cup came in the 2002 edition, where they reached the quarter-finals, while their journey in the 2022 mundial ended in the round of 16 following defeat to England, with only Morocco going farther in that tournament among African nations than the 2021 AFCON champions.

However, they kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 loss against France, and this saw the bookies increase their odds, with the difference in quality evident in that game.

Ivory Coast (150/1)

Ivory Coast lifted the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, and they arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of Africa's most dangerous dark horses. The Elephants are making their fourth appearance at the tournament and their first since 2014, having successfully navigated qualification under the guidance of Emerse Fae.

Ivory Coast came close to reaching the knockout rounds during their previous World Cup appearances but have never progressed beyond the group stage. However, the current generation appears capable of changing that narrative, combining youthful energy with experience at the highest level.

With players such as Amad Diallo, Ousmane Diomande and Franck Kessie among their standout names, the Ivorians possess quality throughout the squad. While bookmakers consider them outsiders at 150/1, Ivory Coast have already shown that they are capable of upsetting more fancied opponents, after beating Ecuador 1-0 in their opening game.

Egypt (250/1)

Boasting the fourth-shortest odds among African teams in the 2026 World Cup, Egypt have historically been the team to beat in African football, after winning AFCON a record seven times, and enter the global tournament ranked 28th in the current FIFA World Rankings.

The Pharaohs, despite being the first African nation to make an appearance at the World Cup — in 1934 — are only making their fourth appearance in the competition this year, and they have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran.

Mohamed Salah, who finished fourth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, spearheads the side, arriving at the tournament having bid farewell to the Merseyside Reds. The winger, who turned 34 on the very day the Pharaohs took on Belgium in their group opener, marked his birthday by providing an assist as Egypt held the Red Devils to a 1-1 draw.

Ghana (400/1)

Ghana enter the 2026 World Cup with the fifth-best odds among African teams, marking their fifth appearance at the global competition. The Black Stars's best run in the tournament came in 2010, when they were eliminated in a dramatic quarter-final clash with Uruguay on penalties.

Currently ranked 74th in the FIFA World Rankings, Ghana have arguably one of the toughest groups of any African nation in the global tournament, pitted alongside England, Croatia and Panama — though the four-time AFCON champions are not bereft of the notable and experienced players needed to navigate the so-called group of death.

Under new coach Carlos Queiroz, the Black Stars lean on stars like Antoine Semenyo and Thomas Partey, with Jordan Ayew leading the side, as they look to establish another deep run on the global stage.

Ghana kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama, thanks to very late goal by Caleb Yirenkyi, boosting their chances of making it out of a group that also has England andd Croatia.

Algeria (500/1)

Despite not qualifying for the 2018 or 2022 editions, Algeria have the fifth-shortest odds of any African team to win this year's World Cup, and it might not be too surprising given how they were beaten 3-0 by Argentina in their opening fixture.

Currently ranked 29th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Desert Foxes are making their fifth appearance at the World Cup, with their best run in the global competition coming in 2014, when they reached the round of 16.

Algeria are drawn in Group J where they will also face Austria and Jordan, two sides they would fancy their chances of beating. Head coach Vladimir Petkovic is looking to steer the team past the group stage, and they will be led by veteran winger Riyad Mahrez, who is likely featuring in his last World Cup.