Egypt Qualifies for 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde and Ghana Close In

Mohamed Salah scores twice for Egypt

Egypt has officially secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals after a dominant 3-0 victory over Djibouti in Casablanca. This impressive win marks Egypt's fourth World Cup appearance, following their previous participations in 1934, 1990, and 2018.

The Pharaohs, led by star player Mohamed Salah, who scored two goals in the match, now have an unassailable lead in Group A with 23 points, five points ahead of Burkina Faso...

Egypt has officially secured a spot in the , becoming the third African country to do so after and . dominated with a 3-0 victory in , thanks to two goals from and one from . This win not only sealed Egypt's qualification but also solidified their top position in , where they lead .

Meanwhile, and are making strides in their respective groups. Cape Verde sits comfortably at the top of with 20 points from 9 matches, while Ghana leads with 22 points, just one point ahead of . Ghana's 5-0 thrashing of the , with and on the scoresheet, has put them on the brink of qualification.

will feature teams from across the globe, with the exact format and teams still to be determined. Egypt's qualification marks a significant milestone for , with several teams still competing for a spot in the tournament.

The Pharaohs secured top spot in Group A with an unassailable 23 points, courtesy of their impressive 3-0 win over Djibouti in Casablanca. This marks Egypt's fourth World Cup appearance, following their previous participations in , , and .

With a remarkable unbeaten campaign, Egypt showcased their dominance in Group A, accumulating 23 points from 9 matches. Their qualification is a testament to their consistency and skill, and they'll be looking forward to making a mark in the World Cup.

🇪🇬 Egypt have qualified for the #FIFAWorldCup!@EgyptNT | #WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/MUyOoaaE6X
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 8, 2025

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This edition will feature an expanded 48-team format, with nine slots allocated to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Cape Verde's World Cup dreams are still alive, but they'll have to wait a bit longer to find out if they'll make history. The Blue Sharks drew 3-3 with Libya in a thrilling Group D match, with Cape Verde coming from behind to level the score in the dying minutes. They now sit atop Group D with 20 points, two points clear of Cameroon. A win against Eswatini in their next match would secure their first-ever World Cup spot.

Meanwhile, Ghana is edging closer to qualification after a 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic. Thomas Partey, Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana scored the goals, giving Ghana a 3-point lead over Madagascar in Group I. Ghana needs just one point from their final match against Comoros to secure a World Cup spot.

Egypt has already qualified for the World Cup, becoming the third African country to do so after Morocco and Tunisia. They dominated Group A with an unassailable 23 points, courtesy of their 3-0 win over Djibouti.

Ghana is on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup after a 5-0 thrashing of the Central African Republic, with Thomas Partey, Alexander Djiku, Jordan Ayew, and Kamaldeen Sulemana scoring in the second half, following Mohammed Salisu's header in the 20th minute. They currently top Group I with 22 points from 9 matches, just one point ahead of Madagascar, and only need a point from their final group fixture against Comoros in Accra to seal their spot.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde had a heartbreaking finish to their World Cup qualification campaign, narrowly missing out on a spot in the tournament. Despite dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities, they were denied a winning goal in Tripoli due to a disputed offside call in the last minute of stoppage time. The team had four players on a counter-attack, but the decision went against them, dashing their hopes of a fairytale World Cup appearance.

Group I Standings:

Ghana: 22 points from 9 matches
Madagascar: 21 points from 8 matches
Mali: 15 points from 9 matches
Comoros: 15 points from 8 matches

Upcoming Match

Ghana vs Comoros: Scheduled for October 12, 2025, at 19:00 UTC in Accra. Ghana needs only a point to qualify for the World Cup.

Cape Verde's World Cup Dreams Alive

Cape Verde is on the cusp of making history by becoming the second smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup. They drew 3-3 with Libya in a thrilling encounter, coming back from 3-1 down early in the second half to level with eight minutes to go. Despite having an effort cleared off the line in stoppage time, they remain hopeful of securing their first-ever World Cup spot.

Next Step: Beating Eswatini

A win against Eswatini at home on Monday would guarantee Cape Verde's place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They currently top Group D with 20 points, two points ahead of Cameroon. Eswatini, however, served notice of their potential to cause an upset by holding Angola 2-2 on Monday.

What to Expect

Cape Verde's journey has been marked by remarkable progress, driven by actively finding players from the diaspora around the world. With a population of approximately 600,000, they would become the second smallest country to reach the global finals, after Iceland. The team's resilience and determination are their strongest assets as they aim for their first World Cup appearance.

Cape Verde is currently leading Group D with 20 points, two points ahead of Cameroon, who secured a 2-0 win over Mauritius. The Indomitable Lions took almost an hour to break through the Mauritian defense, with Nicolas Ngamaleu scoring the opening goal. Bryan Mbeumo sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal, giving Cameroon a crucial win.

Current Standings in Group D

Cape Verde: 20 points, 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss

Cameroon: 18 points, 5 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss

Libya: 15 points, 4 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses

Angola: 11 points, 2 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses

Mauritius: 5 points, 1 win, 2 draws, 6 losses

Eswatini: 3 points, 0 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses

In other matches, Angola drew 2-2 with Eswatini in their first match under new coach Patrice Beaumelle, while Mali secured a 2-0 win over Chad. Ethiopia also won 1-0 against Guinea Bissau. With these results, the race for World Cup qualification is heating up in Group D.

🚨 🇨🇻 Cape Verde missed a HUGE chance to qualify to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an AWFUL offside call!

❌ 🇨🇻 Cape Verde were denied a goal in the 90+7th minute, and are yet to become the FIFA World Cup DEBUTANTS!pic.twitter.com/iZ3ObQFt32
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) October 8, 2025

Egypt Qualifies for 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde and Ghana Close In