All round of 32 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been confirmed with nine of the 10 African teams advancing from their respective groups.
Algeria and Austria were the final two teams to book their place in the knockout stages from Group J, after their 3-3 draw while reigning champions Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 to win the group with nine points.
Tunisia is the only team from the 10 African sides to be eliminated at the group stage in a resounding achievement for the continent.
While Lionel Messi was benched in the final game, he came off the bench to break the record, becoming the first payer to score in seven successive World Cup games.
Meanwhile, DR Congo became the ninth African country to qualify for the Round of 32 after beating Uzbekistan 3-1. For the first time in history, nine African nations qualified for the knockout stages.
Bafana also know their path deeper into the tournament, with the winner between Netherlands and Morocco waiting in a potential Last-16 clash. In the quarters, it will be the side who progresses from the ties between Germany vs Paraguay and France vs Sweden to potentially meet Hugo Broos’ men.
Round of 32 in full:
- South Africa vs Canada
- Brazil vs Japan
- Germany vs Paraguay
- Netherlands vs Morocco
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Norway
- France vs Sweden
- Mexico vs Ecuador
- France vs Sweden
- England vs DR Congo
- Belgium vs Senegal
- USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Spain vs Austria
- Portugal vs Croatia
- Switzerland vs Algeria
- Australia vs Egypt
- Argentina vs Cape Verde
- Colombia vs Ghana