Africa records mixed start as 10 teams conclude World Cup opening round

African teams have completed their first round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a mixed set of results, finishing the opening phase with two wins, three draws, and five defeats across 10 fixtures.

The continent’s representatives scored a total of seven goals while conceding 16, reflecting both moments of defensive resilience and recurring struggles against top-tier attacking opposition.

Africa’s strongest opening performances came from Ivory Coast and Ghana, both of whom secured narrow but disciplined 1–0 victories.

Ivory Coast edged Ecuador in a tightly contested encounter, relying on compact midfield organisation and structured defending to shut down South American pressure. Ghana followed a similar blueprint, grinding out a 1–0 win over Panama to collect maximum points in a cautious but effective opening display.

Several African sides also managed to hold higher-ranked opponents to draws, producing some of the round’s most tactically disciplined performances.

Morocco earned a notable 1–1 draw against Brazil, while Egypt matched Belgium by the same scoreline in a game defined by defensive organisation. DR Congo secured a historic 1–1 result against Portugal, marking their first-ever World Cup point against the European side. Debutants Cape Verde also impressed, holding Spain to a goalless draw after a determined defensive effort.

However, the overall picture was weighed down by a series of heavy defeats that exposed defensive vulnerabilities against elite opposition.

Tunisia suffered the heaviest loss of the round, going down 5–1 to Sweden in a one-sided contest. Algeria were beaten 3–0 by Argentina, while Senegal fell 3–1 to France. South Africa also endured a difficult outing, losing 2–0 to Mexico despite periods of resistance.

With nine points collected from a possible 30 in the opening round, attention now turns to the second phase of group matches, where qualification hopes begin to take clearer shape.

South Africa will be among the sides under immediate pressure as they prepare to face Czechia in a crucial Group A fixture, while other African teams look to convert their early resilience into stronger results as the tournament progresses.