2026 FIFA World Cup: Record Ten African Nations Compete as Morocco Lead Continent’s Betting Odds

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, ten African nations will compete at the same tournament, doubling the continent’s representation from the five sides that featured at the 2022 edition in Qatar. Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia have all travelled to the co-hosted tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking a watershed moment for African football on the global stage.

The expanded 48-team format has been instrumental in this shift. Nine slots are now automatically allocated to African nations through the confederation’s qualification process, with DR Congo securing the tenth berth via the intercontinental playoffs. Only two groups at this year’s tournament do not include an African representative — a statistic that underscores just how broadly the continent is now represented.

The absence of Nigeria, however, casts a shadow over an otherwise celebratory moment. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup after losing in the playoffs to DR Congo, a side making their first appearance at the tournament since 1974, when they competed under the name Zaire. Nigeria’s non-qualification is particularly notable given the country’s status as one of the most active sports betting markets in the world, with an estimated population of 220 million and a median age of 18.

Football accounts for approximately 85% of all bets placed in Nigeria, according to available market data, with an increasing proportion of those wagers made via mobile devices. The shift away from brick-and-mortar betting shops has also corresponded with a rise in in-play betting, with many Nigerian fans monitoring live odds during matches before committing to a wager. Resources such as Forza Football’s insights into World Cup betting trends have become part of the pre-match routine for a segment of these bettors, who use odds as a gauge of expert sentiment.

Among African nations, Morocco are rated as the strongest contenders by bookmakers, currently priced at 50/1 to win the tournament. That figure represents a dramatic shift in perception since 2022, when the Atlas Lions were available at 200/1 before reaching the semi-finals — the furthest any African nation has ever progressed at a World Cup. Morocco’s standing has been further reinforced by their victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a result that, according to reports, was not without controversy.

Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire follow Morocco in the odds at 150/1, with Algeria and Egypt listed at 250/1. The remaining five African nations are rated as longer-odds propositions by bookmakers, though their presence in the competition guarantees additional group-stage fixtures for fans across the continent to follow — effectively doubling the African football on offer compared to 2022.

South Africa opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to hosts Mexico in the tournament’s opening match and will need to recover quickly to remain in contention for the knockout rounds. The result continued a difficult recent record for African nations at tournament openers: at the 2022 World Cup, none of the five African sides won their opening game, with Morocco and Tunisia managing draws.

Among the narratives attracting attention beyond the outright winner market, Cabo Verde stand out. The island nation has not only qualified for their first-ever World Cup but is also the smallest African country by land area to have done so. Bookmakers do not favour their chances of advancing from the group stage, but their participation alone represents a historic milestone. DR Congo, buoyed by their playoff victory over Nigeria, arrive with momentum, while Ghana — returning to the tournament after an absence — will look to a younger generation of players, including West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, to drive their campaign.

Senegal face a demanding group that includes France and Norway, yet sources suggest the Teranga Lions remain quietly confident of progressing, at minimum as one of the best third-placed sides. With several African squads drawing heavily from players active in Europe’s top leagues, the continent’s representatives are expected to be competitive opposition for any side they face — and with the expanded format offering more pathways to the knockout rounds, the prospect of African nations making history again is firmly on the table.