Africa is set to be well-represented at the 2026 World Cup, with 10 nations from the continent heading to North America for the competition.
And while powerhouses like Senegal and Morocco will be confident that they can make a deep run in the knockout stages, several others will feel they can surprise football fans around the world too.
The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams has led to the creation of the Round of 32, which means that the eight teams who finish third with the best record will also qualify for the knockout stage.
It might therefore just take one win to progress, which would allow several teams to break new ground.
That might be the case for some African teams, while others who have been underestimated in the build-up to the tournament might feel like they have the quality to upset the odds.
That’s been highlighted by promising results in warm-up games, which have provided a boost in morale to these so-called underdogs.
South Africa
The 2026 World Cup will be South Africa’s fourth in their history, but Bafana Bafana haven’t managed to make it out of the group stage at any of their previous tournaments.
The 2010 edition, the last time they competed, saw them finish level on points with Mexico in Group A, but their goal difference meant they dropped to third in the standings and were eliminated.
If they finish third on four points in 2026, though, that could be enough for Hugo Broos’ team to reach the Round of 32.
South Africa do have a tough group where they will face Mexico, South Korea, and Czechia, but there are talented players in the squad, including Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena and exciting Orlando Pirates winger Oswin Appollis.
The second game against Czechia is a winnable fixture, and victory there could be enough to progress.
South African fans at home will be optimistic, and those looking to place wagers on their matches can use a Betway promo code to back the team to reach the knockouts.
Algeria
Considering Algeria were crowned AFCON champions in 2019 and reached the last 16 of the World Cup in 2014, it might be wrong to label them underdogs. Qualification for the Round of 32 should be a reasonable aim for Vladimir Petković’s team, but they might go even further.
Confidence in the squad is sky-high heading into the World Cup, after Algeria recorded an impressive 1-0 victory against the Netherlands in their warm-up game.
Although their opponents squandered chances, Algeria stayed in the contest and snatched a late winner through Anis Hadj Moussa in the 86th minute – who’s to say that they will not record similar wins against Argentina and Austria in Group J?
That recent result proves Algeria can compete against the best nations in the world, as quality players like Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza will find a way to create chances no matter who they face.
The knockout bracket might mean they face Spain in the Round of 32, but Algeria have already shown that they can be one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde are one of the smallest nations competing at the World Cup and one of four tournament debutants. For that reason, many are predicting the Blue Sharks to get eliminated in the group stages, particularly as they play Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
However, their qualifying campaign shows that they belong at this tournament. Just one defeat and seven wins in World Cup qualifying saw them top a group that included African powerhouse Cameroon.
Spain might prove too tough an opponent in their opening match of the tournament, but Uruguay were inconsistent in qualifying, as they lost to Paraguay and Peru. Cape Verde might be able to cause an upset when the two teams meet, while they will feel confident of their chances against Saudi Arabia.
A 3-0 thrashing of Serbia prior to the World Cup will only have boosted morale in the camp.
Dailon Livramento, who scored four goals in qualifying, said recently that he wants the team and their fans to have fun in the group stages, but if Cape Verde play at the level they are capable of, that party atmosphere will continue into the Round of 32.
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