Ten African Teams Qualify for 2026 U17 World Cup
Morocco, Algeria and Egypt have named final 21-player squads as the tournament in Qatar approaches.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Soccer
Ten African national teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup, which takes place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13. Eight qualified directly after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco, while Mozambique and Uganda claimed the final places through playoffs.
Why it matters
The qualifiers give African youth football a strong presence at the global youth tournament, with several nations preparing through domestic camps and announced squads. The announcements show how national federations are readying young players for the competition.
Ten African teams secured places at the tournament, with eight qualifying directly from the quarter-finals and two through playoff matches. Morocco's 21-player squad includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six forwards.
The players
Ahmed Kantari
Ahmed Kantari is the coach of Morocco's national under-17 team.
Amine Ghimouz
Amine Ghimouz is the coach of Algeria's national under-17 team.
Hussein Abdel-Latif
Hussein Abdel-Latif is the coach of Egypt's national under-17 team.
The details
Morocco coach Ahmed Kantari announced his squad on November 3, Algeria coach Amine Ghimouz on November 6, and Egypt coach Hussein Abdel-Latif on November 7. Cameroon's delegation of 29 members departed Yaounde on November 7, and Senegal held a training camp in Toubab Dialaw from November 2 to 8.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Morocco announces its 21-player squad.
November 6, 2026: Algeria announces its 21-player squad.
November 7, 2026: Egypt finalizes its squad and Cameroon's delegation departs Yaounde.
November 19, 2026: The 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup opens in Qatar.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 qualification follows the established route in which continental youth championships determine representation at the FIFA U17 World Cup. The inclusion of ten African teams shows the continent maintaining a substantial share of places in the global youth competition.
Fans following the tournament can track the 21-player squads announced by Morocco, Algeria and Egypt as the matches begin. The qualifiers mean Africa's ten representatives will feature across the group stage in Qatar.
The takeaway
Ten African teams at this World Cup make the continent a central part of the global youth tournament. Following the squad announcements and group-stage results offers a clear view of emerging talent.
What happens next
The 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup opens in Qatar on November 19, 2026, and runs through December 13, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the continent's youth pipeline, see Soccer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Morocco World News.
