World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Exciting African Race

If we take the level of competition, the competitive situation and the dramatic value as a measure of the attractiveness of football, then the race in Africa is the most attractive at present in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Excluding the play-off matches, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa will conclude after this FIFA Days (matches will take place continuously from October 8 to 14). Each team in Africa is preparing to play the last two matches.

Cape Verde (right) is a phenomenon in the African region.

PHOTO: AFP

There are 9 groups, with the 9 group winners entering the World Cup finals. The 4 best second-placed teams will continue to play to select 1 team to participate in the global play-off round. Currently, the first 2 teams have secured tickets to the finals: Morocco (Group E) and Tunisia (Group H). The other three teams with a big advantage, only needing to win 1 more match to be completely assured are Egypt (Group A, 5 points ahead of Burkina Faso), Cape Verde (Group D, 4 points ahead of Cameroon), Algeria (Group G, 4 points ahead of Uganda). We can immediately see how the "strange bird" Cape Verde is flying high. They "won over and over" when meeting the "giant" Cameroon and drew with Angola (a team that has participated in the World Cup). Cape Verde won all 6 remaining matches, in a group of 6 teams. In the last two matches, Cape Verde has home advantage when meeting bottom team Eswatini (new name of Swaziland) and visiting Libya.

What opponents are waiting for the 2026 World Cup?

The situation in the remaining groups is tense. Of course, at this stage, it is mainly a two-way race. Those are the pairs Senegal - DR Congo (Group B, Senegal is 2 points ahead), Benin - South Africa (Group C, equal points), Ivory Coast - Gabon (Group F, Ivory Coast is 1 point ahead). Only the pair Ghana - Madagascar in Group I is at a disadvantage, although not too big (Ghana is 3 points ahead). In Group C alone, the race is extremely fierce. This situation appeared because South Africa lost 3 points for using an ineligible player (lost 0-3 to Lesotho by FIFA). Not only did it fall below Benin (equal points, but lost on the secondary index), this also revived hope for the "giant" Nigeria. Both Nigeria and Rwanda are below South Africa and Benin, but only by 3 points. Thus, all the matches between Rwanda - Benin, South Africa - Rwanda, Nigeria - Benin have become decisive matches.

In Europe, Italy and Germany are two giants facing the risk of falling into the play-off round, as they are being left far behind by their "younger" opponents. In Group I, Italy is 6 points behind Norway, but has played 1 less game. If Norway wins Israel and Estonia in the upcoming matches, Italy will not be able to catch up. Even if they are equal on points, Norway will still be ranked higher thanks to their excellent goal difference (16 goals ahead).

Norway, who have won all five of their qualifying matches, will host Israel on October 11. Erling Haaland, the top scorer in European World Cup qualifying, is in the form of his life. In the last five weeks, Haaland has scored 16 goals in just nine appearances for both Norway and Manchester City.

In Group A (with only 4 teams), Germany lost 0-2 to Slovakia in the opening match. If Slovakia continues to win against the two weaker opponents, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, German fans will be "breathing oxygen" before the return match with Slovakia. Norway, England (in groups with 5 teams) and Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal (in groups with 4 teams) are the teams that are absolutely winning in the European region.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vong-loai-world-cup-2026-hao-hung-cuoc-dua-chau-phi-185251008230441343.htm