Africa's World Cup aspirations faced a significant blow as seven teams were eliminated in the last 32, marking a historic collapse for the continent. Only Egypt and Morocco remain in the tournament, setting an unwanted record for African nations in the competition.

Egypt and Morocco are the last two African teams remaining in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having advanced to the Round of 16 following significant penalty shootout wins against Australia and the Netherlands. This marks a historic moment for African football in the tournament.

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.

Despite a record nine African teams reaching the World Cup Round of 32, seven were eliminated, highlighting the challenges faced by African teams in advancing in the tournament. The reasons behind the frequent stalling of African World Cup hopes are explored, particularly in light of recent performances, including those of Cape Verde.

Morocco and Egypt have qualified for the round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Morocco, which reached the semi-finals in 2022, and Egypt, making its debut in the knockout stages, are the two African representatives in this phase of the tournament. Morocco notably defeated the Netherlands, who are three-time finalists, to secure their spot.