Eight Arab national teams competed at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup: Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia and Iraq. Morocco produced the deepest run by reaching the quarter-finals, while Egypt recorded its first World Cup victories and advanced to the round of 16.
Spain won the tournament for the second time, defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final on 19 July 2026.
The expansion from 32 to 48 participants created the largest Arab presence in World Cup history. The eight qualifying teams entered the tournament with different levels of experience: Morocco returned after reaching the 2022 semi-finals, while Jordan made its World Cup debut and Iraq appeared for the first time since 1986.
Three Arab teams progressed beyond the group stage. Morocco reached the quarter-finals, Egypt advanced to the round of 16 and Algeria qualified for the round of 32.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia and Iraq were eliminated during the group stage. Their results varied, but the expanded field did not automatically make progression easier: the strongest third-placed teams could advance, while teams finishing fourth were eliminated.
Morocco finished second in Group C after drawing 1–1 with Brazil and defeating Scotland 1–0 and Haiti 4–2.
The Atlas Lions then eliminated the Netherlands in the round of 32. The match ended 1–1 after extra time before Morocco won the penalty shootout 3–2.
In the round of 16, Morocco defeated co-host Canada 3–0 through goals from Azzedine Ounahi, who scored twice, and Soufiane Rahimi. That result sent Morocco into the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup.
The run ended with a 2–0 defeat against France. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored the goals that prevented Morocco from repeating its 2022 semi-final appearance. FIFA’s final standings placed Morocco joint seventh overall.
Egypt progressed beyond the group stage for the first time and then defeated Australia in the round of 32. The match finished 1–1 before Egypt won 4–2 on penalties.
That victory took Egypt into the round of 16 and represented the country’s first win in a World Cup knockout match. Argentina ended the run with a 3–2 victory, but Egypt finished 15th in FIFA’s final tournament standings.
This was a clearer achievement than the previous article suggested. Egypt did not simply reach the knockout stage; it won its first elimination match before losing narrowly to the eventual runners-up.
Algeria recovered from an opening defeat against Argentina by beating Jordan and drawing 3–3 with Austria. Those results allowed the Desert Foxes to advance as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Switzerland defeated Algeria 2–0 in the round of 32, bringing the campaign to an end. FIFA ranked Algeria 30th in the final standings.
The group also contained Jordan, who lost all three matches during the country’s World Cup debut. Jordan nevertheless scored against Argentina, Algeria and Austria before finishing 44th overall.
Saudi Arabia collected two points in Group H. The team drew with Uruguay and Cape Verde but lost 4–0 to eventual champions Spain, finishing fourth in the group.
Qatar earned one point in Group B and was also eliminated at the group stage. Tunisia lost its three Group F matches, including defeats against Sweden and Japan, while Iraq was beaten by Norway, France and Senegal in Group I.
These results left five of the eight Arab teams outside the knockout rounds. Morocco, Egypt and Algeria therefore accounted for the region’s three places in the expanded elimination stage.
The tournament also affected the timing of squad decisions across club football, with players returning from international duty as the 2026 summer transfer market entered its decisive period.
Spain faced defending champions Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July. The match remained goalless throughout normal time before substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute.
The 1–0 victory gave Spain its second World Cup title, following its first triumph in 2010. Spain finished the tournament unbeaten and conceded only one goal across eight matches.
Argentina did not have a player dismissed during the match, contrary to the previous version of this article. Enzo Fernández received a red card during a confrontation after the final whistle, so the incident did not leave Argentina playing with ten men during the final.
Spain midfielder Rodri received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after starting all eight of his country’s matches. Lionel Messi won the Silver Ball, while France forward Kylian Mbappé received the Bronze Ball.
Mbappé also won the Golden Boot after scoring ten goals in eight matches. Messi claimed the Silver Boot and England’s Jude Bellingham received the Bronze Boot.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches. His teammate Pau Cubarsí received the Best Young Player award, while the Netherlands won the FIFA Fair Play award.
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