The question for the seven Arab teams qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is no longer related to numerical attendance only, but rather to the ability of each team to deal with the shape of its group and the direction of competition in it. With the expansion of the tournament to include 48 teams, the chances of qualifying have become relatively greater, but that does not mean that the task has become easy, as the decisive factor remains the nature of the competitors within each group, which will determine the ceiling of ambitions. The question is: Will the Arab teams succeed in achieving achievements similar to what Morocco did in the previous edition, by reaching advanced stages?
The Arab scene seems diverse. There are teams that have real opportunities to compete directly for qualification, while others face greater challenges, which makes their mission depend on surprises or exploiting minute details in decisive matches. The 2026 World Cup will be a test of the teams’ ability to manage matches efficiently, more than it is a test of the strength of the names alone. Morocco is considered among the Arab teams that have good chances of reaching advanced stages in the first round. Despite the presence of Brazil in the group, facing Scotland is considered an important key, while the Haiti match gives the Moroccan team an opportunity to make a strong start or make up for any failure. Morocco’s path seems clear, as the team enters the tournament with the mentality of competing and not just participating, especially after the experience it has gained in recent years, which has made it more capable of dealing with difficult matches.
Egypt is also in a good position to seriously consider qualifying. Belgium remains the most prominent candidate in the group, but the presence of Iran and New Zealand makes the competition for second place open. Egypt’s path depends on its ability to achieve victory against teams at the same level, and not only on withstanding the stronger team. If Egypt appears in the tournament with the same organization it showed in some of its recent matches, its chances will be great.
On the other hand, Tunisia faces a more technically complex group. The presence of the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden means that the Tunisian national team will face three different football schools capable of imposing their style. Therefore, Tunisia’s path in this group does not appear to be comfortable. Rather, it is a difficult race that requires great discipline and the ability to extract points from closed matches. The task is not impossible, but it is among the most difficult in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia, in turn, faces a difficult group, as the presence of Spain and Uruguay puts it in front of two tough tests, while facing Cape Verde may become a match without mistakes. Saudi Arabia’s path depends on its ability to withstand first, then wait for an opportunity to turn the tide. The competition for second place seems complicated, unless the team succeeds in imposing its style from the first match.
As for Algeria and Jordan, their presence in the same group with Argentina and Austria requires special reading. Algeria seems the closest to competing with Austria for the second ticket, thanks to its experience and competitive strength, while Jordan enters the challenge with the aim of providing an honorable performance and trying to exploit any stumble by the competitors. This group will show the difference between the team that is ready to compete and the team that is still gaining experience at this level.
Qatar appears to be in a group that is less exciting than others, but it is not easy. Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina form a trio that does not allow for many mistakes, which means that the Qatari team may face one of the most sensitive groups. This group is not impossible, but it requires a strong start and consistency in performance, because any early stumble may make compensation difficult.
In conclusion, it can be said that the path of the Arab teams is divided into two parts: one section includes teams that have a real chance of qualifying, such as Morocco and Egypt, and another section that will enter the tournament hoping to achieve surprises, such as Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. As for Algeria and Qatar, they stand in a middle region, where things could change according to the results of the first matches, with Iraq and Bolivia pitted against the runner-up of the previous edition, France, and Norway, which will never be an easy opponent.
Therefore, the Arab participation will not be judged by the number of teams only, but rather by the ability of each team to understand its group well and transform theoretical opportunities into actual results on the field.
