Salah and African Stars Begin Long Journey to the 2026 World Cup

Egyptian Mohamed Salah and the Moroccan national team, along with other stars from the African continent, will kick off their journey this week in the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup, with nine teams qualifying directly for the tournament. The 54 teams (before the withdrawal of Eritrea) are divided into nine groups of six teams each, with the winner of each group qualifying directly for the expanded finals, which will feature 48 teams instead of 32. The four best teams finishing second in their groups will compete in a continental playoff, with five other teams in an international playoff, to secure an additional potential spot in the World Cup, which is set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. If the African team secures this additional spot, the number of representatives from the continent will increase to ten, compared to five in last year's finals in Qatar.