STORY: FIFA president confirms at least 9 African teams for 2026 World Cup
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 22, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:56
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the event

STORYLINE:

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday confirmed that at least nine African teams will compete in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
   
Infantino made the remarks when the 46th Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ordinary General Assembly opened on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, bringing together leaders and delegates of member associations from across Africa.
   
"In World Cup 2026, there will be nine or ten African countries (and regions) participating in the World Cup," said Infantino, noting that the increase is to be made in line with FIFA's expanded World Cup format.
   
The president said FIFA is also considering increasing the number of African teams participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup to six.
   
He also noted that Morocco is set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030, which would make the country the second-ever African nation to host the World Cup.
   
Former African football stars, including Samuel Eto'o, Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, among others, attended the 46th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)