Tunisia and Morocco Qualify as South Africa Eyes 2026 World Cup Spot
- Two African nations have already booked their places for the 2026 World Cup, but several spots are still up for grabs
- South Africa remains in contention, with their fate hinging on the upcoming crucial matches that could finally secure their place on football’s biggest stage
- The remaining African slots are hotly contested, with every result in the coming qualifiers set to shape which nations will make it to the historic 48-team tournament
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South Africa's Bafana Bafana managed a 1-1 draw against Nigeria's Super Eagles in the FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.
Source: Getty Images
The result puts Bafana Bafana just one win away from booking their place at the global football showpiece, which will be held across the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
The prospect of returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the historic tournament in 2010 is increasingly within reach for South Africa.
Two African teams have already secured qualification for next year's tournament
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has an allocation of nine slots for the 2026 World Cup, with seven remaining. North African giants Morocco and Tunisia have already booked their places.
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Tunisia, known as the Carthage Eagles, will make their seventh World Cup appearance and third consecutive one. Similarly, Morocco will play in their seventh World Cup, also marking their third successive qualification. Notably, Morocco qualified without conceding a single goal.
With the remaining seven spots still up for grabs, group winners and the best runners-up will secure automatic qualification. At the same time, some teams may have to compete in the play-offs, including a potential inter-confederation play-off for a tenth slot.
Morocco made history in Qatar 2022 by reaching the semi-finals, becoming the first African nation to do so, after notable victories against Portugal and Spain.
Source: Getty Images
Bafana Bafana’s road to qualification
Bafana Bafana currently have their fate in their own hands. A victory in their next round of qualifiers will guarantee automatic qualification.
However, a pending eligibility issue involving Teboho Mokoena could complicate matters. Mokoena played in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in March, despite being ineligible.
FIFA has remained largely silent on the matter, only posting on social media on 9 September 2025 alluding to South Africa’s qualification prospects.
If the issue is not formally challenged and South Africa wins their next match, Bafana Bafana will join the other qualified nations at the 2026 World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on 5 December 2025, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance.
Looking ahead to 2026
The 2026 World Cup will take place from 11 June to 19 July and will be the largest tournament in history, featuring 48 nations, 16 more than the previous edition in Qatar.
Bafana Bafana now have a clear path to make history once again and reclaim their place among the world’s elite footballing nations.
Super Eagles stars tumble on the tunnel
Briefly News previously reported that Super Eagles stars Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon both tumbled in the tunnel as the players prepared to walk onto the pitch, before the game against Bafana Bafana on 9 September 2025.
Ndidi slipped first and took Simon down with him, while Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi narrowly avoided joining them.
Source: Briefly News
