World Cup
Tough 2026 World Cup qualifying marathon kicks off
Africa’s marathon 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign kicks off on Wednesday, 15th November with 40 nations vying for the continent’s nine automatic finals spots in North America.
The continent’s gruelling road to the World Cup is often described as the most arduous in football as exciting home fans adding some attraction to the tough qualifying matches.
But with FIFA expanding the finals to 48 teams, Africa’s representation rises from five to nine direct places in 2026 which provides an extra incentive during qualification, which runs until October 2025.
Africa’s trailblazers in Qatar, received a bye this week after Eritrea withdrew before their scheduled meeting.
That postpones the return of World Cup stars like Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri until next week Tuesday when they take on Tanzania.
The Atlas Lions stunned Belgium, Spain and Portugal en route to the semi-finals of the World Cup last year to become the first African side to reach the last four of the global competition.
As Africa’s World Cup hopefuls embark on the long road to the 2026 World Cup, giants like Nigeria, Ghana and African champions Senegal are eager to impress.
Nigeria, aiming for a seventh World Cup appearance, are without injured stars Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze for games against Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.
But Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro can still call on quality replacements, including Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi. Concerns persist over goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, however.
Elsewhere, Ghana coach Chris Hughton is under pressure ahead of matches against Madagascar and Comoros. Veteran midfielder Andre Ayew returns to help after the Black Stars’ recent heavy defeat by the USA.
Continent champions Senegal, spearheaded by Sadio Mane, enter the fray next week. The 2022 quarter-finalists shape as serious contenders to go deep again in 2026.
Cameroon, Africa’s most regular World Cup participants with eight appearances, start their campaign against minnows Mauritius before facing Libya.
Elsewhere, Zimbabwe return from a year-long FIFA suspension for government interference to face Rwanda on Wednesday.
However, Zimbabwe are among 19 sides prohibited from hosting home qualifiers in substandard stadiums.
The likes of Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia and Somalia will also play ‘home’ fixtures at neutral venues. Zimbabwe take on regional rivals Nigeria in Rwanda this weekend.
With only nine group winners advancing to the finals, plus one playoff spot, the stakes are high from Matchday One.
For Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and company, conquering the continent represents the first step towards World Cup glory in North America. Their two-year quest starts today.
Africa’s MatchDay 1 & 2 Fixtures
Wednesday NOV 15
- Group C:Rwanda v Zimbabwe – 2pm
- Group H:Equatorial Guinea v Namibia – 2pm
- Group B: Congo DR v Mauritania – 5pm
- Group A: Ethiopia v Sierra Leone – 8pm
Thursday Nov 16
- Group F:Burundi v Gambia – 2pm
- Group G:Botswana v Mozambique – 2pm
- Group A: Egypt v Djibouti – 5pm
- Group B: Sudan v. Togo – 5pm
- Group C:Nigeria v Lesotho – 5pm
- Group F:Gabon v Kenya – 5pm
- Group G:Algeria v Somalia – 5pm
- Group D:Cape Verde v Angola -8pm
- Group E: Morocco v Eritrea -8pm
Friday Nov 17
- Group D:Eswatini v Libya – 2pm
- Group G: Guinea v Uganda -2pm
- Group I:Comoros v Central African Republic – 2pm
- Group E:Zambia v Congo -5pm
- Group H: Liberia v Malawi -5pm
- Group I:Ghana v Madagascar – 5pm
- Group A:Burkina Faso Guinea Bissau – 8pm
- Group D:Cameroon v Mauritius – 8pm
- Group F: Cote d’Ivoire v Seychelles -8pm
- Group H:Tunisia v Sao Tome – 8pm
- Group I:Mali v. Chad – 8pm
Saturday Nov 18
- Group C:South Africa v. Benin -2pm
- Group E: Niger v. Tanzania – 5pm
- Group B:Senegal v South Sudan – 8pm
Sunday Nov 19
- Group C: Zimbabwe v Nigeria – 2pm; Butare, Rwanda
- Group F:Burundi v Gabon – 2pm; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Group G: Mozambique v Algeria – 2pm; Maputo, Mozambique
- Group A:Sierra Leone v. Egypt- 5pm; Paynesville, Liberia
- Group B: Sudan v. Congo DR – 5pm; Benina, Libya
Monday Nov 20
- Group A:Djibouti v Guinea Bissau -4pm; Cairo, Egypt
- Group H:Liberia v Equatorial Guinea – 5pm; Paynesville, Liberia
- Group F: Seychelles v Kenya – 8pm; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Group F:Gambia v Côte d’Ivoire – 5pm; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Group I:Mali v Central African Rep. – 8pm; Bamako, Mali
- Group I:Chad v Madagascar – 8pm; Oujda, Morocco
Tuesday 21 November
- Group C:Lesotho v Benin – 2pm; Durban, South Africa
- Group C:Rwanda v South Africa -2pm; Butare, Rwanda
- Group D:Eswatini v Cape Verde – 2pm; Nelspruit, South Africa
- Group G: Somalia v Uganda – 2pm; Berkane, Morocco
- Group G: Botswana v Guinea – 2pm; Francistown, Botswana
- Group H: Malawi v Tunisia- 2pm; Lilongwe, Malawi
- Group B:South Sudan v Mauritania- 5pm; Diamniadio, Senegal
- Group B:Togo v Senegal – 5pm; Lome, Togo
- Group H:Sao Tome e Principe v Namibia- 5pm; Agadir, Morocco
- Group D:Libya v Cameroon – 5pm; Benina, Libya
- Group I: Comoros v Ghana – 5pm; Moroni, Comoros
- Group D:Mauritius v Angola – 5pm; Saint Pierre, Mauritius
- Group E: Niger v Zambia – 8pm; Marrakesh, Morocco
- Group A:Ethiopia v Burkina Faso – 8pm El Jadida, Morocco
- Group E:Tanzania v Morocco 8pm; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Nine people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting near England’s World Cup base camp in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, days before the tournament is due to kick off.
Kansas City police said there were no suspects in custody and that at least three of the shooting victims were transported to local hospitals.
The incident occurred roughly four miles from where England are set to train at Swope Soccer Village. England have not arrived in Kansas City and are due to play a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the FA declined to comment.
Gun violence is common in the United States, where there were more than 400 mass shootings in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Morocco concluded their preparations for the FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Norway in an international friendly on Sunday, showing flashes of attacking quality before being forced to withstand late pressure from the Europeans.
The Atlas Lions made a bright start and took the lead after just seven minutes through star forward Brahim Diaz. The Real Madrid attacker capitalised on space outside the penalty area to unleash a powerful strike that gave Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland no chance.
The goal marked Diaz’s first for Morocco since the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer despite the disappointment of missing a penalty in the final.
Morocco looked the more dangerous side in the opening stages and nearly doubled their advantage midway through the first half. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli connected with a teasing cross from Diaz but sent his volley narrowly off target.
The North Africans continued to threaten after the break. Diaz again tested the Norwegian defence in the 57th minute, forcing Nyland into a save before midfielder Neil El Aynaoui headed the rebound over the crossbar.
While Morocco controlled large portions of the contest, Norway gradually grew into the game and mounted sustained pressure in the closing stages. Their persistence paid off 15 minutes from then when captain Martin Odegaard finished neatly with his left foot after a clever run and assist from Oscar Bobb.
Norway almost snatched victory late on, but Kristian Thorstvedt’s header from Julian Ryerson’s free-kick drifted narrowly wide, allowing Morocco to preserve the draw.
Despite surrendering their early lead, the result offers several positives for coach Walid Regragui ahead of Morocco’s opening World Cup Group C fixture against Brazil in New York on Saturday. The Atlas Lions demonstrated their attacking threat through Diaz while also showing resilience under pressure as they defended resolutely in the closing minutes.
With Brazil, Haiti and Scotland also in Group C, Morocco will take encouragement from another competitive performance as they prepare for one of the toughest opening assignments of the tournament.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman plans to use Monday’s friendly against Uzbekistan in New York as an opportunity for his first-choice line-up to have a proper dress rehearsal ahead of their opening World Cup clash against Japan next weekend.
The rest of the Dutch squad will then play a second unofficial game against the Uzbeks straight afterwards, made up of two 35-minute halves, Koeman announced on Sunday.
“We want to use the first match to make as few changes as possible. We have to wait and see if that works,” he said at a press conference ahead of the clash at the Ichan Stadium.
“We are going to play the first match largely with our starting team. It is also good for guys who are not 100% fit, who can then play in the second match. That is why we are playing two matches.
“We have 26 players, and everyone gets minutes to play. That’s what you want.”
A decision still needs to be made regarding defender Jurrien Timber, who only joined the squad last Thursday after playing for Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30.
It was Timber’s first outing since March after struggling with a groin injury, and there remains concern over his levels of fitness.
“If he trains and is fully fit, he always makes a good impression. That hasn’t been the case every day, so we have to make a decision,” Koeman told reporters.
“He participated in training, and we are going to sit down with the doctor and Jurrien at the end of Sunday afternoon to see whether he is going to start or not,” the coach added.
The Dutch open their Group F campaign against Japan in Dallas on Sunday. Uzbekistan take on Colombia on June 17 in Group K.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Iwobi Salutes Nigerians Ahead of Landmark 100th Super Eagles Appearance
Falcons Truly Super in 3-0 Defeat of Senegal in Ikenne
Salami and Shooting Stars: A Family Legacy Intertwined with Continental Glory, Says Odegbami
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup1 week ago
Iran beat Gambia as federation seeks FIFA clarity over visas
- World Cup1 week ago
Attack-minded Ivorians bullish ahead of World Cup return
- World Cup5 days ago
Rema, Davido, Burna Boy and Ayra Starr Make FIFA’s Star-Studded World Cup 2026 Official Album
- World Cup4 days ago
Shakira to Headline FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in Mexico
- World Cup4 days ago
FIFA bans vuvuzelas from World Cup stadiums
- International Football1 day ago
Eriksen Suffers Fresh Collapse During Denmark Friendly, Reviving Memories of Euro 2020 Ordeal
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Soname Rewards Flamingos with N4.5m Goal Bonus After Guinea Rout
- World Cup1 week ago
Behold! Nigeria’s Gift to the World Cup: 11 Stars, No Super Eagles