For the first time in history: two Arab-African nations reach the 2026 World Cup round of 16

Morocco and Egypt have together written a historic chapter in World Cup history by both qualifying for the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup — the first time ever that two Arab-African nations have simultaneously reached this stage in the same edition of the tournament.

Morocco: excellence on the big stage

The Atlas Lions reaffirmed their status as the benchmark of African football, completing a dominant group stage campaign to secure their place in the last 16. Following their historic semi-final appearance at Qatar 2022, Morocco continue to show that their rise in world football is no accident.

Egypt: a return to the world stage

The Pharaohs made a long-awaited return to the round of 16, driven by a determined group stage campaign that showcased the depth and resilience of Egyptian football. Their qualification is a reminder that Africa's talent pool runs deep.

An unprecedented achievement for African football

Never before in World Cup history had two African nations qualified for the round of 16 in the same edition simultaneously. Previous African milestones — Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010, Morocco reaching the semi-finals in 2022 — had always been solitary achievements.

Today, the African continent and the Arab world celebrate together, with two nations flying their flags in the round of 16 of the biggest sporting event on the planet.