For decades, Middle Eastern and North African football fans watched the World Cup mostly as spectators of other nations' tournaments — a team here, perhaps two there. The 2026 edition, expanded to 48 teams and hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has rewritten that story.
The biggest turnout yet
A record number of teams from the region have reached this World Cup: eight Arab nations — Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia — alongside Iran, as Al Jazeera has noted. The jump from 32 to 48 places widened the qualifying allocations for Africa and Asia, opening the door to first-timers and returning sides alike.
Among them, Jordan reached its first-ever World Cup, and Iraq returned for the first time since 1986, Middle East Eye reported.
How they have fared
Morocco arrived as the region's standard-bearer after their semifinal run at Qatar 2022 — the first by an African or Arab nation — and again advanced from the group stage, beating Scotland, drawing with Brazil and topping it off with a win over Haiti. The Atlas Lions are now treated less as plucky outsiders than as genuine contenders.
Egypt produced one of the group stage's most emotional moments. After previous tournament appearances without a single win, the Pharaohs beat New Zealand 3-1 — with Mohamed Salah scoring — for their first World Cup victory, Al Jazeera reported.
Others have found the going harder. Tunisia, qualifying for a seventh time, were eliminated in the group stage after heavy defeats. Qatar, back after hosting in 2022, finished bottom of their group. Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan and Iran have had mixed campaigns, with several still chasing knockout places as the final group matches play out. (Results in ongoing matches will be updated as they are confirmed.)
More than the scoreline
Beyond individual results, the numbers mark a shift. Never before had the region placed this many teams in a single World Cup. For countries like Jordan, simply qualifying is a milestone built on a decade of investment in academies, coaching and domestic leagues across the Arab world.
The momentum extends beyond 2026: Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. For a region that once counted its World Cup presence in ones and twos, this tournament — eight Arab flags in the stands, plus Iran's — reads less like a peak than a new baseline.
