Africa's nine World Cup survivors rewrite the record books as Asia sends just two into the last 32

Nine of Africa's ten teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup reached the Round of 32 on Sunday 28 June, ending the group stage with a knockout tally that surpasses the continent's entire previous record and leaving Asia represented by just two sides in the last 32.

Morocco, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, Cape Verde, Egypt, DR Congo and Algeria all advanced. Tunisia, eliminated in the opening week, are the only African nation not to make the cut.

A record that rewrites history

Before this tournament, the most African teams to reach the knockout stage of a neusingle World Cup was two — Algeria and Nigeria in 2014, Morocco and Senegal in 2022. The nine qualifiers in 2026 are more than had come from the continent across the entire previous history of the competition combined: Fox Sports confirmed that prior to 2026, only six African countries had ever reached the knockout stage at all.

Africa's nine survivors account for more than 28 percent of the 32 teams still standing, according to ESPN's Africa football correspondent Ed Dove.

How they got through

Morocco and Brazil topped Group C, with Morocco finishing on seven points after two wins and a draw. South Africa, in their first-ever knockout appearance at a World Cup, came second in Group A after a decisive 1-0 win over South Korea on 24 June. Ivory Coast sealed second place in Group E when Nicolas Pepe scored twice in a 2-0 win over Curaçao.

Egypt reached the knockout stage for the first time, finishing second in Group G behind Belgium on goal difference with five points. Senegal advanced as one of the eight best third-placed teams after a 5-0 win over Iraq in their final group match.

Cape Verde made history by qualifying as debutants without winning a single group match — the first nation to do so since Chile in 1998, according to multiple reports. Algeria qualified in dramatic circumstances: captain Riyad Mahrez struck in the 94th minute against Austria, only for substitute Saša Kalajdžić to equalise with his second touch of the ball on the final play of the game. The 3-3 draw was enough for both sides to go through.

DR Congo registered the country's first-ever World Cup win, beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in a 3 June 27 comeback, to earn a Round of 32 place. Ghana advanced from Group K as runners-up.

Tunisia the sole casualty

Tunisia exited in the opening week, losing 5-1 to Sweden and then 4-0 to Japan before a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands confirmed their group-stage elimination. Al Jazeera noted that the Carthage Eagles, who were the first African side to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico in 1978, have never progressed beyond the group stage.

Asia's contrasting fortunes

While Africa placed nine of ten teams into the knockout rounds, Asia had only Japan and Australia advance, despite the Asian Football Confederation sending eight teams to the tournament. South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan all went home at the group stage, as did Jordan on their debut.

The nine African sides now face tests against some of the tournament's strongest sides. South Africa opened the Round of 32 on Sunday against Canada at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Morocco face the Netherlands on Monday night. Ivory Coast take on Norway on Tuesday, with Senegal against Belgium and Egypt against Australia to follow later in the week.

The Round of 32 runs through to 3 July, with the winners of each tie advancing to the Round of 16.