It has been non-stop action every day since the 48-team, 104-match 2026 Fifa World Cup tournament began on June 11.
After 72 group matches were completed on Saturday, the business end of the 2026 Fifa World Cup began last night with the round of 32. South Africa, given little chance of progressing, made it to their first-ever knock-out stage and were due to play co-hosts nation Canada in the first match of the Last 32 stage yesternight , June 28, at Los Angeles Stadium.
African teams performed exceptionally well in the group stage to secure nine spots in the round of 32. Of the 10 African entries, only Tunisia failed to advance from the group stage.
“The world championships start at the knock-out stage. The group matches were just the warm-up. The World Cup now starts. You lose, you go home. Everybody must go for it,” said Ghana’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, after he guided the Black Stars to only their third appearance in the knock-out stage.
“The tournament starts anew. We had the first chapter in prep camp, the second chapter in the group, and the third chapter is coming,” England’s coach Thomas Tuchel said after topping their group.
Since Africa first participated in the World Cup in 1934, it is only once that the continent has had more than two teams qualifying for the knock-out stages in one tournament, Senegal and Algeria in Brazil 2014.
And so, after South Africa has taken to the field, it will be the turn of 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Tuesday against three-time finalists the Netherlands.
Morocco is Africa’s top-ranked team at position six in the world. Together with Cape Verde and Egypt, the Atlas Lions are the only African nations that negotiated their group stages without losing a game.
Morocco blasted in six goals, including Ismael Saibari's three, and after running five-time champions Brazil ragged in the preliminary stages, they will fancy their chances against the Dutch at Dallas Stadium.
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi celebrates with his team mates after their IFA World Cup 2026 - Group C match against Haiti at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US on June 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Brett Davis | Reuters
“I said from the onset, Morocco entered a whole new dimension. The Moroccan team and people need to be 100 per cent committed to becoming the best nation in the world,” Atlas Lions coach Mohammed Ouahbi laid out his objective.
Senegal made their life very difficult but managed to squeak through as the eighth-best third-placed finisher, and the only one with three points.
Led by Sadio Mane, the Teranga Lions blasted five goals without reply against Iraq and will feel they can take on any team as they have grown from strength to strength from a very difficult group that had contained tournament favourites France and Norway. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiam, has kept talking about the finer details of the game here in America. He will need to get all the particulars right to put away Belgium at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday and send them to their third last 16 appearance.
Iraq's Rebin Sulaka fouls Senegal's Sadio Mane during their FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group I match at Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada on June 26, 2026.
Photo credit: John E Sokolowski | Reuters
Coach Emerse Fae seems to have a good touch with Cote d’Ivoire after leading them to the 2023 Afcon title. In their first knock-out stage in four appearances, the Elephants’ pace and energy will pose problems to the Norwegians. DR Congo, scoreless in their inauspicious debut in 1974, have now scored four, three from Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa. They face England for their first-ever meeting.
The African sides must not be under any illusions. Getting to the round of 16 will be the real World Cup test.
