The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has started in Morocco, with a record 16 national teams taking part and four direct places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil on offer.
Originally scheduled for March, the tournament was pushed back to July by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is being staged in Morocco for the third successive edition.
The competition began on 26 July and features four groups of four sides. All fixtures for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations are now set, with the group phase followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final.
As of 28 July 2026, the competition is under way and further results and standings are still to come.
World Cup qualification route
The four semi-finalists at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will automatically secure their spots at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil.
Teams that are eliminated in the quarter-finals will still have a second chance to stay in contention for a World Cup berth through an additional play-off route.
CAF has established a system of two pre-play-off ties involving the losing quarter-finalists:
– The loser of quarter-final 1 will face the loser of quarter-final 4
– The loser of quarter-final 2 will meet the loser of quarter-final 3
The winners of these two matches will progress to the intercontinental play-offs, where they will compete against teams from other confederations for the remaining World Cup places.
Tiebreak rules in the group stage
If teams finish level on points in the group stage, they are separated using a series of criteria applied in a set order. These regulations are designed to distinguish sides on sporting merit when they have identical records in terms of points gained.
CAF’s rules cover head-to-head results, goal difference and goals scored, among other potential separating factors, to ensure a clear ranking of teams when the margins are tight.
Expanded format
This year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations marks the first time 16 teams have taken part in the continental showpiece. The enlarged format, with four groups of four, reflects CAF’s drive to increase opportunities in the women’s game and widen participation across the continent.
The new structure guarantees every qualified side at least three matches in the tournament, with the top teams from each group progressing to the knockout phase.
Nigeria’s historic dominance
Since the inaugural Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 1991, the competition has been overwhelmingly dominated by Nigeria.
Across 14 editions, only three different nations have lifted the trophy. Nigeria have claimed 10 titles – or 12 if the first two editions, which some observers do not officially count, are included.
Equatorial Guinea are the only other multiple winners, with two continental crowns. South Africa became the third country to be crowned champions when they secured their first title in 2022.
Morocco’s hosting role
Morocco’s staging of the 2026 finals extends a recent pattern, with the North African nation acting as host for the third consecutive tournament.
The country has invested heavily in football infrastructure and has become a regular destination for major CAF competitions in both the men’s and women’s game.
The full set of fixtures and results, along with updated group standings, will continue to shape the story of this latest edition as teams chase continental glory and a place on the global stage in Brazil next year.
