The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up in Africa, and two of the continent’s biggest stars — Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi — are making headlines. Morocco, led by Hakimi, already sealed their ticket to the tournament in North America. Now, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is just one step away from doing the same with Egypt.

Let’s dive into how Egypt, Tunisia, and other African nations are battling for a place in the biggest soccer competition in the world.

Egypt Just One Win Away

Egypt’s national team, known as the Pharaohs, are leading their World Cup qualifying group. On Tuesday, they face Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. If Egypt wins, they will secure first place in the group with two games left to play.

This is a massive opportunity for Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old captain has been Egypt’s superstar for nearly a decade. He has already won the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool, and now he wants to make sure Egypt is part of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Last week, Salah scored a penalty in Egypt’s 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in Cairo. His teammate, Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush, also netted from the spot. That win kept Egypt five points clear at the top of the group. Burkina Faso, however, is not far behind and will fight hard in front of their home crowd.

A Stadium with History

This will be the first time Burkina Faso plays a qualifier in Ouagadougou during this campaign. Their main stadium, the August 4 Stadium, was closed for years because it fell into poor condition. Interestingly, this is the same stadium where Egypt won the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations final against South Africa.

Now, the venue is back in use, and it’s going to be a big occasion. Burkina Faso is coming off a huge 6-0 win over Djibouti, where Dango Ouattara, a new signing for Brentford in the English Premier League, scored twice.

The Stars of Egypt and Burkina Faso

Egypt has been dominant in attack. They’ve scored 16 goals in seven qualifiers, with 12 of them coming from Salah (seven goals) and Trezeguet (five goals). Salah is currently second in the African Golden Boot race, just one goal behind Gabon’s Denis Bouanga.

Burkina Faso has its own stars. Lassina Traore, who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, has scored five goals. He even found the net when Burkina Faso lost 2-1 in Cairo last year. That game was tough, as Trezeguet scored twice for Egypt in the opening minutes, but Traore’s strike made it tense until the end.

This clash will feel like a final — Salah’s finishing versus Traore’s determination.

Why This World Cup Means So Much for Egypt

Egypt is one of Africa’s most successful soccer nations. They’ve won the Africa Cup of Nations seven times, more than any other country. But surprisingly, they have only qualified for the World Cup three times: in 1934, 1990, and 2018.

For Egyptian fans, missing out on the World Cup is painful. Qualifying this time would bring relief and joy, especially since the 2026 edition will be the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams and 104 matches.

Even if Egypt doesn’t beat Burkina Faso, they will still be in control. Their last two games are against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau, two teams struggling at the bottom of the group. But Salah and his teammates will want to finish the job early.

Tunisia Also Closing In

While Egypt prepares for Burkina Faso, Tunisia is also just one step away from the World Cup. The Carthage Eagles lead Group H and will qualify if they beat Equatorial Guinea on Monday.

Tunisia has been strong in qualifying, winning six games and drawing only once, away to Namibia. When Namibia lost at home to Malawi last week, Tunisia moved into a commanding position.

If they win in Equatorial Guinea, it will be their seventh World Cup appearance. Tunisia is known for its defensive strength and smart play. In their last meeting with Equatorial Guinea, they won 1-0 in Rades.

Equatorial Guinea’s Strange Story

Equatorial Guinea started their campaign with two wins, but FIFA later said their goal scorer, captain Emilio Nsue, was ineligible. They were docked six points, which ruined their chances of staying close to Tunisia. Later, FIFA admitted Nsue actually had the right to play, but they haven’t yet decided whether to return those points.

As things stand, Tunisia is nine points clear and almost certain to qualify.

Salah

The Race in Other Groups

The African qualifiers are full of drama. Only the group winners qualify directly, so every match is crucial. Here are some of the biggest stories:

• DR Congo vs. Senegal (Group B): DR Congo leads Senegal by one point. They face off in Kinshasa in a huge showdown. Senegal, the 2022 AFCON champions, will rely on stars like Sadio Mane, but DR Congo has momentum.

• Cape Verde vs. Cameroon (Group D): Cape Verde, a small island nation with only about 525,000 people, is ahead of Cameroon by one point. Beating Cameroon would be historic.

• South Africa vs. Nigeria (Group C): South Africa can move nine points clear of Nigeria with a win. For a country that hosted the 2010 World Cup, qualifying again would be a big achievement.

• Ivory Coast vs. Gabon (Group F): The reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, are strong favorites. A win over Gabon would nearly seal their spot.

• Algeria vs. Guinea (Group G): Algeria, winners of the 2019 AFCON, are closing in on qualification.

• Ghana vs. Mali (Group I): Ghana, who have qualified for four World Cups already, can end Mali’s hopes if they win. Mali would then need to hope for a play-off spot.

Fun Soccer Facts and News Combo

• The 2026 World Cup will be the first ever with 48 teams instead of 32.

• Africa has nine direct spots for the first time in history. In the past, they had only five.

• Mohamed Salah has scored more than 50 goals for Egypt, making him their all-time top scorer.

• Burkina Faso has never qualified for a World Cup. This campaign is one of their best chances.

• Tunisia’s nickname, the Carthage Eagles, comes from the ancient city of Carthage, once a powerful civilization in North Africa.

• Morocco, thanks to Hakimi and their strong squad, became the first African team to qualify for 2026. They were also Africa’s best team in the last World Cup, reaching the semifinals in Qatar 2022.

• Salah’s Egypt and Tunisia Close to World Cup Qualification

What’s Next?

This week could be historic for African soccer. If Tunisia beats Equatorial Guinea on Monday, they’ll become the second African nation to qualify after Morocco. Then, on Tuesday, Salah’s Egypt could make it three by sealing Group A with a victory in Burkina Faso.

The battle doesn’t end there. With big matches like DR Congo vs. Senegal and South Africa vs. Nigeria, the qualifiers are full of excitement. Fans across the continent are dreaming of North America in 2026.

Soccer is more than just a game in Africa — it’s passion, pride, and identity. And for stars like Salah and Hakimi, the World Cup is the stage to show the world what African football can do.