With just under a year to go, 18 countries have already sealed their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition of the global football showpiece to feature 48 teams.

The tournament, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026, will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the event is staged across three nations.

“This is set to be the biggest and most inclusive World Cup in history,” FIFA said, highlighting the expansion from 32 to 48 teams after the Qatar 2022 edition.

Qualification Breakdown

The new allocation of slots has widened participation across all continents:

UEFA (Europe): 16

CAF (Africa): 9

AFC (Asia): 8

CONMEBOL (South America): minimum 6

CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean): minimum 6

OFC (Oceania): 1 guaranteed spot for the first time

The final two berths will be decided in March 2026 through a six-team inter-confederation playoff.

Countries Already Qualified

So far, 18 nations have confirmed their participation.

Hosts:

United States

Canada

Mexico

Asia (AFC):

Australia

Iran

Japan

Jordan

South Korea

Uzbekistan

Oceania (OFC):

New Zealand

South America (CONMEBOL):

Argentina (holders)

Brazil

Ecuador

Colombia

Paraguay

Africa (CAF):

Morocco

Tunisia

More Slots Still Open

With 30 places still to be decided, qualification campaigns remain fierce in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Analysts predict that perennial European giants such as France, Germany, and England will likely feature, while in Africa, nations like Nigeria, Senegal, and Egypt are pushing to secure spots.

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises high drama, with regional qualifiers set to conclude in the coming months.

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has declared that South Africa know exactly what must be done when they face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a high-stakes 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday evening.

Hugo Broos’ side remain top of Group C with 16 points from seven games, while Nigeria sit in third place with 10 points from the same number of matches. A win at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein would strengthen South Africa’s grip on the group and edge them closer to a place in the global finals.

“We want to do things our way” — Williams

Williams emphasised that South Africa want to remain in the driving seat and avoid relying on other teams’ results to determine their qualification chances.

“The most important thing is to get the job done. We do not want any favours from anyone, we want to do things our way,” the goalkeeper told Safa.net.

He recalled past disappointments when the team’s fate depended on outcomes elsewhere, vowing that Bafana Bafana would not repeat the same mistakes.

“We learnt a hard lesson a few years ago when our destiny was in other team’s hands and obviously things didn’t go our way. So, we learnt and grew as a team, and now we want to do things,” Williams added.

Kick-off details

The clash will be played at the Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm local time (5pm Nigerian time).

With just three matches left in the campaign, both sides are under pressure: South Africa to maintain their lead, and Nigeria to revive their qualification hopes.

The boxing world witnessed one of its most remarkable comebacks on Saturday as Nigeria’s Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi ended a 26-year absence from the ring with a third-round technical knockout victory over Idris Afinni at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Ike Ibeabuchi when he was declared winner of the bout….
Photo credit: Kayode Oluwa

The 52-year-old former heavyweight contender, who last fought in 1999, showed flashes of his old ferocity, forcing Afinni’s corner to throw in the towel before the start of round four.

A Historic Return After Two Decades Away

Ibeabuchi’s comeback was more than just another fight night. Once one of the most feared heavyweights in the 1990s, his career was derailed after legal troubles in the United States led to a 16-year prison sentence and years of absence from professional boxing.

Against Afinni, however, he fought with the energy of a man determined to reclaim lost time. He pressed forward from the opening bell, unloading heavy punches that left his opponent struggling to respond.

The decisive moment came at 1:47 of round three, when a series of punishing body shots forced Afinni into survival mode. By the end of the round, his corner had seen enough.

The victory extended Ibeabuchi’s professional record to 21-0 (16 KOs).

Pre-Fight Concerns and Medical Clearance

There had been widespread debate over whether a 52-year-old fighter who had been away for more than two decades should be licensed to fight.

Remi Aboderin, Secretary of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, confirmed that Ibeabuchi passed a comprehensive round of medical checks before being cleared to compete.

“He underwent MRI scans, blood pressure checks, and full screenings for Hepatitis B and HIV. Only after passing all of these tests was he cleared for the bout,” Aboderin explained.

The Call-Out: Oleksandr Usyk

Never one to shy away from bold declarations, Ibeabuchi used his post-fight moment to call out the reigning undisputed heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk.

“I want to fight Usyk — the champion,” he declared in the ring. “I’m 21-0, 16 KOs… why can’t he fight me?”

Ike ‘The President ‘ Ibeabuchi in the Ring… Photo credit: Kayode Oluwa

The statement immediately set social media buzzing, with fans and pundits questioning whether the Nigerian veteran could realistically secure a title shot against the Ukrainian star.

A Challenge From Closer to Home

The night also took another twist when former world champion and cruiserweight contender Tony “Sugar” Salam publicly threw down the gauntlet to face Ibeabuchi in an all-Nigerian clash.

That potential matchup could be a more immediate and realistic test for the returning heavyweight, as the boxing world continues to digest his comeback.

A Night of Mixed Emotions

The Lagos event featured four bouts in total — three men’s contests and one women’s fight. The female bout ended in a dramatic second-round knockout, while the third men’s fight sparked controversy, with sections of the crowd booing what they felt was a premature stoppage.

But there was no doubt about the main event. For many fans inside Teslim Balogun Stadium, the night will be remembered as the moment “The President” returned to power.