FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Africa’s representation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As qualifiers resume later this month, African teams are gearing up for the prestigious tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Speaking at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Infantino emphasized FIFA’s dedication to enhancing Africa’s role in international football.
“We are making sure that Africans can have a bigger say on the world scene,” he said.
“In the next 2026 FIFA World Cup, Africa could see its representation double to up to 10 teams. The Women’s World Cup and the U17 World Cup are also opening more doors for African talent on the global stage.:
Infantino revealed that Africa’s participation in the 2026 tournament could potentially double, allowing up to 10 teams to compete. He also highlighted FIFA’s initiatives to expand opportunities in both women’s and youth competitions.
“For the Women’s World Cup, we moved from 3 to 4 or potentially 6 representatives from Africa and the same goes, of course, for the youth competitions”, added Infantino.
Meanwhile, during the congress in Cairo, Dr. Patrice Motsepe secured re-election as CAF President for a second term, extending his leadership until 2029.