How off-pitch geopolitics muted Africa
18 Jul 2026, 16:04 GMT
By CGTN
Topic: africa
Credit: CGTN
Source URL: https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2026-07-19/How-off-pitch-geopolitics-muted-Africa-s-2026-World-Cup-campaign--1OSNCdScWGc/p.html
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered as a tournament of unprecedented scale, but for African football, it was equally defined by historic systemic barriers off the pitch. While the expansion to a 48-team format promised a more inclusive global celebration, the reality of co-hosting across the United States, Canada, and Mexico exposed deep geopolitical inequalities.