A record nine African countries have confirmed their places in round 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
Algeria and DR Congo are the latest teams from the continent to seal their last-32 ticket at the ongoing competition.
They join Morocco, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana and Senegal in the business end of the competition, breaking the previous record of just two African teams at a World Cup knockout round.
Tunisia is the only country on the continent to qualify for the World Cup, but failed to progress beyond the group stage.
DR Congo qualified after earning their first-ever World Cup victory, 3-1 over Uzbekistan, in their last group stage match on Saturday in Atlanta. Yoane Wissa’s brace and Fislon Mayele’s strike helped the Leopard turn around a game that started disastrously for them.
The victory takes DR Congo to the top
