Cape Verde's World Cup team returned to their hotel in Miami Gardens after being eliminated from the tournament, greeted by a cheering crowd despite their loss. This reception signifies a shift in how the team is perceived and suggests that their journey in the tournament has had a lasting impact on the nation and its supporters, according to AP.

Cape Verde has garnered attention during the expanded 48-team World Cup tournament, with many considering their performance a fairytale story despite their defeat. The island nation is celebrating what they perceive as a 'victory' in spirit, confounding expectations throughout the competition, according to Vanguard Sports.

Achraf Hakimi played a pivotal role as Morocco's substitutes contributed to a late comeback against Haiti, who celebrated ending a 52-year World Cup goal drought. The match was crucial for Morocco, enabling them to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament, according to IOL.

Morocco playmaker Brahim Diaz expressed his desire for the national team to face France in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Diaz contributed two assists in Morocco's 2-0 victory over co-hosts Canada, which secured their place in the next round. The Real Madrid midfielder is looking forward to competing against some of his club teammates.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Morocco and Egypt have successfully advanced to the Round of 16, becoming two of the ten African nations competing in the tournament. They qualified from the initial round of 32 after completing the group stages, marking a significant achievement for African representation in the event.

As the World Cup 2026 approaches, multiple African nations are competing for qualification to the knockout stage, with only Tunisia having been eliminated so far. Nine teams remain in contention as they prepare for their crucial final group matches, aiming for a spot in the Round of 32.