It’s just seven days into the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, but it already feels as though the 23rd edition of the global tournament has been going on much longer. Being an expanded 48-team Mundial, the first of its kind, this World Cup has so far witnessed a series of firsts that arguably make it the most eventful opening week in the competition’s history.

Records have been broken, unwanted precedents have been set, and the drama and controversies are rolling in thick and fast. With 10 countries, the second-highest continental representation, Africa is also well represented in the thick of it, as the continent seeks to further its long-standing World Cup ambitions.

Africa on the Pitch in the First Week of the 2026 World Cup

Africa, they’re here. 🌍🇨🇻#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Hz1tAUr0Q2

— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 15, 2026

Despite a build-up dominated by concerns over the United States’ inclusivity and hospitality, action in the first week has not been a letdown.

South Africa opened with a disappointing loss in a replay of the 2010 World Cup opener against Mexico, further making a mockery of their already slim chances of making it out of a World Cup group stage for the first time in their history. In Group C, the Atlas Lions of Morocco made a statement opening to their campaign by holding five-time champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw in a match where youngster Ayoub Bouaddi justified the hype surrounding his name.

The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire gave Africa its first victory of the opening week, courtesy of Amad Diallo’s late strike against Ecuador, a result that saw them go joint top of Group H alongside Germany and placed them in pole position to reach their first-ever knockout stage.

To little surprise, Tunisia had a tough start to their campaign in Group I, falling 5-1 to Sweden, while Cape Verde registered one of the biggest shocks of the opening week. The World Cup debutants, and the smallest nation by land area in the history of the tournament, pulled off a major surprise by holding European champions Spain to a goalless draw, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha making seven saves in the process.

🇨🇻 7 saves for 40 year old goalkeeper Vozinha from Cabe Verde against Spain. pic.twitter.com/kQndZVbYVf

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2026

The Pharaohs of Egypt were on course to claim their first-ever World Cup victory after Emam Ashour’s fine opener, played through by captain Mohamed Salah. However, substitute Romelu Lukaku’s late equaliser for Belgium denied the record African champions a famous win.

Despite a spirited first-half performance, the Teranga Lions of Senegal eventually fell 3-1 to a Kylian Mbappé-inspired French side, while Algeria posed little resistance to Argentina as Lionel Messi’s hat-trick helped the defending champions commence their title defence comfortably.

More inspiring, however, was DR Congo, who defied expectations to come from an early goal down to hold Portugal to a 1-1 draw in Group K opener. The equaliser, scored by Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa, was DR Congo’s first World Cup goal in 50 years, coming exactly half a century after their debut appearance in the competition. The draw also earned the Leopards their sole point in their World Cup history.  

Likewise, the Black Stars of Ghana wrapped up the first round of games by clinching a 1-0 victory over Panama, sponsored by Caleb Yirenkyi’s strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Africa off the Pitch in the First Week of the 2026 World Cup 

The drama of the 2026 World Cup’s opening week was not confined to the field. 

Barely 48 hours after Tunisia’s catastrophic 5-1 defeat to Sweden, the Tunisian Football Federation relieved head coach Sabri Lamouchi of his duties, making him the first coach to be officially dismissed after just one game at the World Cup. The 54-year-old, who was appointed about five months ago, has since been replaced by Hervé Renard, who coached Zambia and Côte d’Ivoire to AFCON glory in 2012 and 2015, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars of Ghana were dealt a heavy blow during the week after midfielder Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada ahead of their opening match against Panama on Thursday, with FIFA confirming that his visa application had been refused by the Canadian government due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom. The former Arsenal midfielder lost the subsequent appeal lodged against the decision at the Federal Court of Canada.

Lastly, Côte d’Ivoire may have enjoyed the best outing of any African side in the first week, but the Elephants’ camp has also attracted unwanted attention, as multiple reports emerged that striker Elye Wahi is currently the subject of an active investigation seeking to establish whether the 23-year-old France-born forward was culpable in an alleged match-fixing incident while on duty for his club side, Nice, on May 17.

According to the reports, Wahi had been arrested by anti-corruption specialists within the French police on suspicion of deliberately earning a yellow card during the match, following suspicious betting patterns involving wagers on the forward receiving a yellow card. While the investigation remains ongoing and no formal charges have been announced, Wahi is expected to travel with the rest of the Côte d’Ivoire squad to Toronto for their second group game against Germany on Saturday.

Africa’s campaign continues into the second week, with South Africa looking to bounce back against Czechia later on Thursday.