When Gennaro Gattuso questioned FIFA’s decision to increase Africa’s allocation of World Cup places, he argued that Europe’s qualification system deserved greater attention.
Months later, football has delivered its own response, not through debate nor through opinion but on the pitch.
For the first time in history of the continent in the competition, Nine of Africa’s 10 representatives have progressed to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an extraordinary 90 percent qualification rate that has turned the continent into one of the biggest success stories of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Meanwhile, Italy have failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Gattuso had expressed frustration over UEFA’s qualification pathway after Italy found themselves heading towards another playoff battle, pointing to Africa’s increase from two and three places in previous decades to nine automatic qualification spots under the expanded tournament.
His comments were aimed at FIFA’s qualification structure rather than the quality of African football, but events in North America have provided a compelling answer.
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Africa has not merely filled its allocated places, it has justified them. Perhaps no story captures that better than Cape Verde.
Playing at their first ever World Cup, the tiny island nation navigated one of the tournament’s toughest groups unbeaten. Draws against Spain, inaugural champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia earned the Blue Sharks a historic place in the knockout rounds, making them the smallest nation ever to reach that stage of the competition. but their reward is a glamour Round of 32 showdown with defending champions Argentina.
Elsewhere, DR Congo continued Africa’s remarkable campaign by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time and will now face England after recording their first ever World Cup victory.
South Africa’s reward is a meeting with co-hosts Canada after overcoming an opening defeat to qualify from Group A.
Morocco, who once again impressed on the global stage, have booked a heavyweight clash against the Netherlands after finishing second behind Brazil only on goal difference.
Reigning African champions Senegal remain firmly in contention and will now face Belgium in another blockbuster encounter.
Côte d’Ivoire’s return to the knockout rounds has earned them a meeting with Erling Haaland’s Norway, while Egypt will face Austria and Algeria take on Switzerland.
Ghana complete Africa’s impressive representation in the last 32 with a meeting against Colombia.
The scale of Africa’s achievement becomes even more striking when viewed alongside the tournament’s biggest disappointments.
Only Tunisia failed to progress from the continent’s representatives, while traditional football powers including Italy never even reached the finals.
The expanded World Cup was designed to give more nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level and Africa has embraced that opportunity more convincingly than almost any other confederation.
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Perhaps the question was never whether Africa deserved more places at the World Cup. the real question is whether the rest of the football world is ready for Africa’s rise
