JOHANNESBURG — Egypt, led by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, is on the verge of securing its place at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The Pharaohs are set to face Burkina Faso on Tuesday, and a victory would guarantee they finish first in their group with two matches to spare, making them the second African team to qualify after Morocco.
The Road to Qualification
Egypt enters the match in a commanding position, holding a five-point lead over Burkina Faso in Group A. The team has been a formidable force throughout the qualifying campaign, scoring 16 goals in seven matches. Of these, 12 have come from the dynamic duo of Salah, who has netted seven, and Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet,” who has scored five. Salah, in particular, is in a strong position in the Golden Boot race.
The highly anticipated clash will take place in Ouagadougou, a city that holds significance for Egypt, as they won the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations there. For Burkina Faso, it marks the first time they will play a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on their home turf.
The Reasons for Their Confidence
A win in their upcoming match is the most direct way for Egypt to qualify, but their position is strong for several key reasons:
- Group Lead: Egypt currently holds a five-point lead over Burkina Faso in their qualifying group.
- Decisive Match: A victory against Burkina Faso would guarantee they finish first in their group with two matches to spare.
- Strong Performance: The team has been a dominant attacking force, scoring 16 goals in just seven qualifiers, with Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Hassan (Trezeguet) accounting for 12 of them.
- Remaining Fixtures: Even without a win on Tuesday, their qualification remains highly probable as their final two matches are against the group’s lower-ranked teams, Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.
Other Nations on the Brink
While Egypt has a clear path, other African nations are also on the cusp of qualification. Tunisia could become the second African team to qualify, a day before Egypt’s match, with a victory over Equatorial Guinea. The Carthage Eagles have been dominant in their group, winning six matches. The fate of Equatorial Guinea’s campaign, however, remains in question after FIFA deducted six points for an ineligible player, though it later admitted the player was entitled to play.
Other countries are also hoping to take significant steps toward the World Cup. South Africa can extend its group lead over Nigeria, while DR Congo and Cape Verde face crucial showdowns against Senegal and Cameroon, respectively. Additionally, away wins for Ivory Coast over Gabon and Algeria against Guinea would virtually seal their places.
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