Ranking the Middle East and North African teams at World Cup 2026

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You tin travel the enactment connected Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 page with each the latest news, lucifer build-up and unrecorded substance commentary, and support up to day with radical standings, real-time lucifer results and schedules.

The Middle East and North Africa portion (MENA) volition beryllium represented by a grounds 8 teams astatine the 2026 World Cup: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Iran, which is geographically successful the Middle East, is portion of the Central Asian Football Association.

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The information of truthful galore Arabic-speaking teams astatine a World Cup is unprecedented.

Morocco’s historical feat of becoming the archetypal Arab federation to scope the World Cup semifinals astatine the World Cup successful Qatar successful 2022 has bolstered the assurance of different MENA countries. Some teams judge they present person a changeable astatine reaching the knockout phases successful North America.

Al Jazeera breaks down the chances of each broadside earlier the tourney kicks disconnected connected June 11:

⚽ Algeria

World Cup appearances: 5 (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, 2026)
Best finish: Round of 16 (2014)
Overall record: W3 D3 L7
FIFA satellite ranking: 28

Overview

Algeria instrumentality to the World Cup for the archetypal clip since 2014, carrying a acquainted consciousness of optimism tempered by questions implicit consistency. The Desert Warriors were 1 of Africa’s astir feared sides aft winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the years that followed brought much vexation than success, including the heartbreaking nonaccomplishment to suffice for Qatar 2022. Now, backmost connected football’s biggest stage, Algeria get with a talented squad, a blend of experienced leaders and emerging stars and a accidental for their aureate procreation to marque 1 past statement.

Strengths

Few African teams tin lucifer Algeria’s attacking depth. With Riyad Mahrez providing acquisition and creativity alongside emerging talents specified arsenic Mohamed Amoura and Adil Boulbina, the Desert Warriors person the prime to occupation immoderate defence. The squad besides benefits from a beardown halfway of players competing astatine a precocious level successful Europe.

Weaknesses

Defensive inconsistency remains Algeria’s biggest concern. Head manager Vladimir Petkovic has occasionally struggled to mould his attacking endowment into a balanced unit, portion uncertainty successful the goalkeeping section could go a important contented heading into the tournament.

The draw

Algeria look a hard situation successful Group J alongside defending champions Argentina, Austria and World Cup debutants Jordan. The opening lucifer against Argentina volition beryllium a large test, but the Arab derby against Jordan could beryllium decisive successful the conflict for qualification earlier the Desert Warriors reason the radical signifier against Austria. If they tin debar decision against Jordan and instrumentality thing from Austria, a spot successful the knockout rounds is good wrong reach.

Players to watch

Mahrez remains Algeria’s talisman and astir recognisable player. Amoura brings gait and directness successful attack, portion Boulbina offers different breathtaking attacking option.

Key takeaway

Algeria person capable endowment to vie for a spot successful the knockout rounds, but their occurrence whitethorn beryllium connected solving antiaircraft issues and uncovering the consistency that has sometimes eluded the squad since its 2019 AFCON triumph.

Prediction

Elimination successful the circular of 32

⚽ Egypt

World Cup appearances: 4 (1934, 1990, 2018, 2026)
Best finish: Group stage
Overall record: W0 D2 L5
FIFA satellite ranking: 29

Overview

Egypt and the conundrum astatine the bosom of African football. This is simply a header that could good sum up Egypt’s communicative with the World Cup. The Pharaohs stay the ascendant unit successful the AFCON with 7 trophies, yet they are inactive chasing their archetypal World Cup victory. For a state that has dominated the continent for decades and produced a agelong database of stars, this conundrum remains remarkable. So portion different Arab teams would beryllium looking to advancement further successful the tournament, astir Egyptians would cherish a triumph successful the radical signifier arsenic an accomplishment successful itself.

Strengths

Egypt are 1 of Africa’s astir unsafe and lethal attacking units. They harvester method quality, acquisition and gait successful transition. Added to this, the Pharaohs payment from years of competing successful high-pressure continental tournaments, a information which has helped forge a resilient mentality susceptible of handling the demands of a World Cup.

Weaknesses

Despite their attacking talent, Egypt tin beryllium overly reliant connected a fistful of cardinal players to supply moments of inspiration. Defensive lapses against top-level absorption person besides been a recurring issue, and the squad has occasionally struggled to enforce itself against the world’s elite sides.

The draw

Egypt person been handed a mixed gully successful Group G and volition fancy their chances of competing for qualification. They volition statesman their run arsenic underdogs against Belgium, fixed the Red Devils’ superior extent and quality, but they volition presumption the crippled against New Zealand arsenic the 1 they indispensable triumph earlier facing 1 of Asia’s astir disciplined sides, Iran.

Key takeaway

Egypt person what it takes to situation for a spot successful the knockout rounds, but securing their first-ever World Cup triumph volition necessitate much than idiosyncratic brilliance.

Prediction

Elimination successful the circular of 32

Graham Arnold wearing a suit and pointing

⚽ Iraq

World Cup appearances: 2 (1986, 2026)
Best finish: Group signifier (1986)
Overall record: W0 D0 L3
FIFA satellite ranking: 56

Overview

Iraq instrumentality to the World Cup aft a 40-year absence, carrying the hopes of a football-crazy federation that has spent decades waiting for this moment. While reaching the tourney is already an achievement, Iraqis are optimistic the squad could bash much than conscionable marque up the numbers. Iraq secured their spot successful the contention aft a gruelling qualification campaign, and with luck, they tin cause immense upsets.

Strengths

Iraq’s top spot is their mentality. They person built a estimation for grinding retired results, often winning by constrictive margins and showing singular resilience nether pressure. Set pieces are different cardinal weapon, with Aymen Hussein among the champion aerial threats successful Asian football. Veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan besides provides information astatine the backmost aft signaling 1 of the champion cleanable expanse records successful Asian qualifying.

Weaknesses

Goals could beryllium hard to travel by against elite opposition. Iraq’s attacking play relies heavy connected Aymen Hussein and a constricted fig of attacking patterns. If opponents successfully negate those threats, the squad tin conflict to make chances consistently from unfastened play.

The draw

Iraq look 1 of the toughest draws of immoderate Arab federation astatine the tournament. The Lions of Mesopotamia person been grouped with France, Senegal and Norway, leaving small borderline for error. The opening lucifer against Norway could efficaciously signifier the full run arsenic it whitethorn correspond Iraq’s champion accidental to assertion points earlier facing France successful the 2nd game. The last radical lucifer against Senegal volition besides beryllium a cardinal trial against 1 of Africa’s strongest sides.

Players to watch

Hussein remains Iraq’s biggest attacking limb acknowledgment to his aerial dominance and quality to present successful important moments. Veteran goalkeeper Jalal Hassan brings enactment and acquisition aft playing a cardinal relation successful qualification. Midfielder Zidane Iqbal offers creativity and composure successful possession, portion Ali Jasim is regarded arsenic 1 of Iraq’s brightest young talents, who is susceptible of producing moments of idiosyncratic brilliance connected the biggest stage.

Key takeaway

Iraq person already achieved thing peculiar by ending their four-decade World Cup absence. The adjacent situation is to amusement that this procreation tin beryllium remembered for much than specified qualification and found itself among the emerging forces of Asian football.

Prediction

Elimination successful the radical stage, but susceptible of making beingness hard for Group D opponents

⚽ Jordan

World Cup appearances: 1 (2026)
FIFA satellite ranking: 63

Overview

Jordan participate their archetypal ever World Cup with a determination to marque a affirmative content contempt being drawn into a challenging radical featuring Argentina, Algeria and Austria. After singular advancement successful caller years, highlighted by reaching the AFC Asian Cup final, Jordan are seen arsenic an emerging unit built connected antiaircraft subject and speedy transitions. Under caput manager Jamal Sellami and represented by cardinal players specified arsenic Mousa Al-Tamari and Ali Olwan, Jordan anticipation their debut tin go much than conscionable a memorable appearance.

Strengths

Jordan’s strengths are their organisation and squad cohesion. The squad is well-drilled defensively, hard to interruption down portion relying connected compact signifier and disciplined positioning. The squad is besides unsafe connected the counterattack, with Mousa Al-Tamari providing pace, creativity and the quality to make chances successful transition. Jordan’s caller occurrence astatine the Asian Cup demonstrated their quality to vie with stronger opponents done corporate effort and tactical discipline.

Weaknesses

A deficiency of World Cup acquisition could beryllium a important obstacle. Jordan besides deficiency the wide squad extent and idiosyncratic prima powerfulness of the different teams successful the group. As a result, injuries oregon suspensions to cardinal players could person a notable impact. Scoring consistently against elite absorption whitethorn besides beryllium challenging if the squad is forced to walk agelong periods without possession.

The draw

Jordan look 1 of the toughest groups imaginable connected their World Cup debut. Defending champions Argentina are wide favourites, portion Algeria and Austria look to beryllium nonstop rivals successful the conflict for 2nd place. The lucifer against Algeria could beryllium the 1 Jordan would people arsenic the way to the past 32.

Players to watch

Mousa Al-Tamari is Jordan’s standout subordinate and biggest attacking threat, susceptible of changing games with his dribbling and pace. Ali Olwan provides an important goal-scoring beingness successful attack.

Key takeaway

Jordan participate the tourney arsenic underdogs but person already shown they tin transcend expectations. If they support their antiaircraft subject and instrumentality their chances connected the counterattack, they person the imaginable to situation for points and marque their World Cup debut a memorable one.

Prediction

Elimination successful the radical stage

⚽ Morocco

World Cup appearances: 7 (1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best finish: Fourth spot (2022)
Overall record: W6 D6 L11
FIFA satellite ranking: 7

Overview

Morocco participate the 2026 World Cup with a precise antithetic presumption from erstwhile tournaments. The Atlas Lions are nary longer viewed arsenic outsiders susceptible of causing an upset. They are present expected to situation the world’s champion aft becoming the archetypal African and Arab federation to scope the semifinals successful 2022. With a settled squad, a winning mentality and a blend of established stars and emerging talent, Morocco get successful North America believing different heavy tally and a changeable astatine the biggest prize are possible.

Strengths

Morocco person 1 of the astir implicit squads successful the tournament. The Atlas Lions harvester antiaircraft solidity with method prime and attacking flair, portion years of playing unneurotic person created a beardown consciousness of cohesion. With world-class players crossed the pitch, Morocco person the quality to accommodate to antithetic opponents and lucifer situations.

Weaknesses

Unlike different Arab teams, the lone weakness that could hinder Morocco’s World Cup imagination is the unit of expectation, which whitethorn beryllium to beryllium the biggest challenge. The Atlas Lions volition nary longer payment from being underestimated. Opponents volition beryllium afloat alert of their strengths, and breaking down teams that follow a much cautious attack could beryllium hard astatine times.

The draw

Morocco look a demanding but manageable situation successful Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. The clash with five-time satellite champions Brazil volition beryllium 1 of the standout matches of the radical stage, but the Atlas Lions person already shown they tin vie with the world’s elite, having beaten the Selecao successful 2023 and reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup. Scotland and Haiti implicit a radical successful which Morocco volition expect to unafraid qualification. The bigger question is not whether the Atlas Lions tin beforehand but whether they tin physique capable momentum to marque different heavy tally into the knockout rounds.

Players to watch

Achraf Hakimi remains Morocco’s biggest prima and 1 of the champion full-backs successful satellite football. In attack, Brahim Diaz provides creativity and flair portion Abde Ezzalzouli and Ismael Saibari connection pace, directness and the quality to unlock defences successful one-on-one situations. In midfield, Azzedine Ounahi remains a cardinal fig acknowledgment to his imaginativeness and ball-carrying ability, portion Nael Ainaoui has emerged arsenic 1 of Morocco’s astir breathtaking talents, bringing vigor and method prime to the centre of the pitch.

Defensively, Noussair Mazraoui’s versatility, acquisition and prime connected the shot marque him a captious constituent of the team, portion Yassine Bounou continues to supply reliability and enactment betwixt the posts. Highly rated midfield youngster Ayoub Bouaddi is different sanction to watch, with galore viewing him arsenic 1 of the brightest prospects successful European football.

Key takeaway

Morocco person each the tools needed to situation the world’s elite erstwhile again. The situation present is to beryllium that the singular tally successful Qatar was not a one-off but the opening of a caller epoch for African and Arab football.

Prediction

Quarterfinals

⚽ Qatar

World Cup appearances: 2 (2022, 2026)
Best finish: Group signifier (2022)
Overall record: W0 D0 L3
FIFA satellite ranking: 57

Overview

Qatar instrumentality for their 2nd World Cup appearance, looking to marque a stronger content aft a hard debut connected location ungraded successful 2022, wherever they became the archetypal big federation to suffer each 3 radical matches. That tourney was a immense setback, but the acquisition gained could beryllium invaluable successful the hunt for Qatar’s first-ever World Cup points.

Strengths

Since galore of the squad members person played unneurotic for years done the nationalist squad setups, the method quality and cohesion stay the team’s biggest strengths. This gives Qatar a beardown knowing and fluidity successful possession, and their quality to power the tempo and physique attacks from the backmost tin occupation immoderate opposing squad if exploited fully.

Weaknesses

Defensive vulnerability against higher-quality absorption remains a concern, arsenic was evident erstwhile facing the gait and physicality of elite teams successful 2022. Moreover, the deficiency of consistency astatine some ends of the transportation mightiness hinder Qatar’s attempts to beryllium much competitory this clip around.

The draw

Qatar person a just accidental of progressing to the 2nd round, fixed the information they person been drawn successful a radical without accepted heavyweights. They look a hard opening trial successful Group B against Switzerland, but the 2nd lucifer against Canada whitethorn beryllium decisive successful the conflict for qualification, considering the challenges they volition brushwood erstwhile facing Bosnia and Herzegovina successful their past game.

Players to ticker

Several acquainted faces volition beryllium expected to transportation Qatar’s situation successful 2026. Akram Afif remains the standout subordinate acknowledgment to his creativity. Almoez Ali provides a proven scoring option, seasoned skipper Hassan Al-Haydos brings acquisition and guidance, and keeper Meshaal Barsham volition person a large relation to play arsenic the past enactment of defence.

Key takeaway

Qatar person capable endowment and planetary acquisition to beryllium competitive, but improving defensively and taking chances successful cardinal moments volition beryllium indispensable if they are to unafraid their archetypal affirmative World Cup result.

Prediction

Elimination successful the radical stage

⚽ Saudi Arabia

World Cup appearances: 7 (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best finish: Round of 16 (1994)
Overall record: W4 D2 L13
FIFA satellite ranking: 61

Overview

Saudi Arabia get successful their seventh World Cup believing they tin again astonishment the shot world. The Saudis produced 1 of the greatest upsets successful tourney history by defeating eventual champions Argentina successful 2022, a effect that reinforced their estimation arsenic a squad susceptible of producing connected the biggest stage.

Strengths

Saudi Arabia harvester method prime with relentless intensity. They are comfy successful possession, property aggressively and payment from a radical of players who played unneurotic for years. The maturation of the Saudi Pro League has besides helped rise standards, with section players gaining invaluable acquisition alongside established planetary stars.

Weaknesses

Consistency remains a concern, arsenic portion the Saudis person shown they tin vie with elite opponents connected immoderate fixed day, maintaining that level crossed an full tourney has proven difficult. Defensive attraction tin besides beryllium an contented against teams with superior attacking quality. There are besides questions astir whether the influx of overseas players into the Saudi Pro League has reduced opportunities for immoderate home talents to gain regular playing time.

The draw

Saudi Arabia look a daunting situation successful Group H. The Saudis statesman their run against Uruguay earlier taking connected Spain, 1 of the tournament’s favourites. This leaves the last lucifer against Cape Verde arsenic a perchance decisive encounter. A bully effect against Uruguay and a triumph against Cape Verde should beryllium capable to spot them done to the adjacent phase.

Players to watch

While the squad has immoderate bully players, lone 5 of them volition beryllium nether the spotlight with added unit to perform. Salem Al-Dawsari remains the look of Saudi shot and 1 of Asia’s astir influential attacking players. Midfielder Mohammed Kanno provides vigor and equilibrium successful the centre of the park, portion Saud Abdulhamid’s gait and attacking menace from full-back marque him a cardinal weapon. Up front, Firas Al-Buraikan volition beryllium expected to people goals, and successful goal, the seasoned keeper Mohammed Al-Owais is backmost for different tournament.

Key takeaway

Saudi Arabia person shown earlier that they tin daze the world’s best. To person immoderate accidental of reaching the knockout rounds, the Saudis indispensable harvester that fearless mentality with greater consistency crossed each 3 radical matches.

Prediction

Through to the circular of 32

⚽ Tunisia

World Cup appearances: 7 (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best finish: Group stage
Overall record: W3 D5 L10
FIFA satellite ranking: 46

Overview

The Eagles of Carthage get for their seventh World Cup, inactive chasing a breakthrough moment. Tunisia person go a regular beingness connected football’s biggest signifier but ne'er progressed beyond the radical phase.

Strengths

Defensive subject remains Tunisia’s top asset. The squad conceded precise fewer goals during qualifying and is renowned for its organisation, resilience and quality to frustrate stronger opponents.

Weaknesses

Scoring goals remains the biggest concern. Tunisia often conflict to crook coagulated performances into victories against top-level opposition, and this adds much unit connected the backmost enactment and goalkeeper to support cleanable sheets.

The draw

Tunisia person been drawn alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden successful Group F. The opener against Sweden is important arsenic good arsenic the past crippled against the Netherlands, but the lucifer against Japan that coincides with the 1,000th lucifer successful FIFA World Cup past could yet marque oregon interruption Tunisia’s hopes of reaching the knockout signifier for the archetypal time.

Players to watch

Tunisia’s hopes volition remainder connected a blend of experienced leaders and emerging talent. Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri remains the heartbeat of the team, bringing composure, tactical quality and top-level European experience. Hannibal Mejbri provides creativity and flair, portion Elias Achouri offers a nonstop attacking threat. At the back, Montassar Talbi volition beryllium important to maintaining Tunisia’s antiaircraft solidity and young winger Khalil Ayari could look arsenic 1 of the tournament’s astonishment performers if fixed the opportunity.

Key takeaway

Tunisia person the antiaircraft operation to vie with anyone successful their group, but uncovering capable goals whitethorn find whether the Eagles of Carthage tin yet extremity their longstanding World Cup curse.

Prediction

Elimination successful the radical stage

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