FIFA has unveiled the pots for the African qualifying draw for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Ghana, a four-time African champion, finds itself in Pot 2 and could potentially face their long-time rivals Nigeria in the qualifying campaign.
Being placed in Pot 2 means that Ghana might also be drawn against formidable opponents such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Mali, and Ivory Coast.
The draw, scheduled for July 12, will determine the groups for the qualifying campaign leading up to the 2026 tournament.
FIFA categorized the countries into six pots based on the latest world ranking. Regrettably, Ghana, ranked 11th on the continent, did not secure a place in Pot 1, reserved for the highest-ranked teams. As a consequence, the Black Stars will face a challenging path to secure qualification for the tournament.
The qualifying draw will divide the countries into nine groups, each comprising six teams. The group winners will earn direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
However, the four best second-placed teams will compete in a mini-tournament, with the winner advancing to an intercontinental playoff.
Ghana vs Nigeria
There is the possibility of a playoff rematch between Ghana and Nigeria, reminiscent of their previous encounter for the 2022 World Cup qualification.
In that thrilling playoff, the Black Stars emerged victorious on away goals, securing their place in the tournament held in Qatar.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Below are the Pots
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 | Pot 5 | Pot 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nigeria | Ghana | Angola | Mozambique | Niger | Lesotho |
Morocco | Burkina Faso | Benin | Gambia | Comoros | South Sudan |
Senegal | South Africa | Kenya | Sierra Leone | Sudan | Mauritius |
Algeria | Cape Verde | Mauritania | Togo | Rwanda | Chad |
Tunisia | DR Congo | Congo | Tanzania | Burundi | Sao Tome |
Cameroon | Guinea | Uganda | Zimbabwe | Ethiopia | Djibouti |
Mali | Zambia | Madagascar | Central African Rep | Eswatini | Seychelles |
Egypt | Gabon | Guinea Bissau | Malawi | Botswana | Eritrea |
Ivory Coast | Equatorial Guinea | Namibia | Libya | Liberia | Somalia |