2026 World Cup: Zero Wins For Africa So Far As Algeria Faces Argentina Wednesday

By Emmanuel Kwada

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition hosted across three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — has burst into life with high drama, record-breaking performances, and early disappointment for African representatives. As the tournament’s opening phase unfolds, African teams are still searching for their first victory, casting a shadow over the continent’s ambitions in the expanded 48-team competition.

The tournament officially kicked off on Thursday, June 11, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico delivered a composed 2-0 victory over South Africa in Group A.

For Africa’s nine representatives, the opening has been challenging.

Goals from Julian Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez powered the Mexicans to an opening win in front of a raucous home crowd, setting a positive tone for the co-hosts while handing South Africa an early defeat.

This match marked not only the tournament opener but also the first game spanning the three host countries, symbolizing the unique multinational nature of World Cup 2026.

Germany wasted no time making their mark in Group E. On Sunday, June 14, in Houston, the four-time world champions dismantled debutants Curaçao 7-1, setting an early scoring record for the tournament.

The emphatic win showcased the depth and attacking firepower of Julian Nagelsmann’s side, with Curaçao managing a consolation goal but little else against the European powerhouse.

Other early results have included competitive showings across groups, with several draws and notable upsets keeping the expanded format thrilling.

For Africa’s nine representatives, the opening has been challenging. South Africa suffered defeat against Mexico, while Morocco earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brazil. Other CAF representatives have also struggled to convert promises into points.

The spotlight now shifts to Algeria, who face one of the tournament’s toughest assignments when they take on defending champions Argentina in Group J on Wednesday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina will be eager to strengthen their title defence campaign, while Algeria carry the hopes of a continent still waiting to celebrate its first triumph of the tournament.

As of mid-June, victories have been secured by several leading nations, including Mexico, Germany, South Korea, Australia, and the United States, while a number of matches have ended in draws that demonstrate the competitive balance of the tournament.

Among the notable stalemates were Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Netherlands’ entertaining 2-2 draw against Japan, and Morocco’s impressive 1-1 result against Brazil.

At the other end of the spectrum, teams including South Africa, Curaçao, Czechia, Paraguay, and Türkiye have suffered defeats, increasing the pressure ahead of their subsequent fixtures.

African Teams’ Upcoming Fixtures

With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Africa’s representatives face crucial matches in the coming days:

• Argentina vs Algeria,  Wednesday, June 17 (Group J, Kansas City)
• Portugal vs DR Congo (Group K, Houston)
• Ghana vs Panama (Group L, Toronto)
• France vs Senegal (Group I, New Jersey)

Other African teams in action soon:

• South Africa (Group A – vs Czechia, South Korea)
• Morocco (Group C)
• Côte d’Ivoire (Group E)
• Tunisia (Group F)
• Egypt (Group G)
• Cape Verde (Group H)

The dream of lifting the FIFA World Cup remains alive for all 48 participating nations, and Africa’s representatives will be determined to ensure their story at the tournament is only just beginning.

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