Morocco becomes Africa's first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup

According to news on September 6, Beijing time, in the 7th round of the African group stage of the World Cup qualifiers, Morocco swept Niger 5-0 and advanced to the 2026 World Cup three rounds in advance, becoming the first African team to obtain a place in the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
After the World Cup expansion, CAF received 9.5 quota places: nine direct qualifiers and one continental playoff spot. The African region will be divided into nine groups of six teams each. The top teams in each group will advance directly to the World Cup, while the four runners-up will advance to the playoffs to determine one continental playoff spot.
Morocco was placed in Group E of the African FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Eritrea, also in the group, withdrew from the competition before the start of the tournament, leaving the group with five teams remaining. With three rounds remaining in the African qualifiers (Morocco's group only had to play two more), Morocco, in first place, leads Tanzania by eight points and Zambia, in third place, having played one game less, by 12 points.

After the World Cup expansion, CAF received 9.5 quota places: nine direct qualifiers and one continental playoff spot. The African region will be divided into nine groups of six teams each. The top teams in each group will advance directly to the World Cup, while the four runners-up will advance to the playoffs to determine one continental playoff Morocco was placed in Group E of the African FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Eritrea, also in the group, withdrew from the competition before the start of the tournament, leaving the group with five teams remaining. With three rounds remaining in the African qualifiers (Morocco's group only had to play two more), Morocco, in first place, leads Tanzania by eight points and Zambia, in third place, having played one game less, by 12 points.