what African nations have made the knockout stage
Nine African nations made the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage: Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Senegal, Ghana, Algeria, and DR Congo. Tunisia was the only African team eliminated before the Round of 32.
Quick Scoop
Here’s the list in simple form:
| African nation | Reached knockout stage? |
|---|---|
| Morocco | Yes |
| South Africa | Yes |
| Ivory Coast | Yes |
| Egypt | Yes |
| Cape Verde | Yes |
| Senegal | Yes |
| Ghana | Yes |
| Algeria | Yes |
| DR Congo | Yes |
| Tunisia | No |
What stands out
This is Africa’s strongest collective World Cup group-stage performance ever, with nine of ten teams advancing. Several of these teams also made the knockout rounds for the first time, including South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and DR Congo. Cape Verde’s run was especially notable because it reached the knockout stage in its World Cup debut.
