Cameroon, Africa's Most Frequent World Cup Participant, Misses Out on 2026 Tournament

Cameroon has officially been eliminated from the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their hopes were dashed after a 1-0 defeat to DR Congo in the African play-offs, which were part of the qualification pathway to the intercontinental play-offs for the tournament. This loss brings an end to the qualification campaign for one of Africa's most historically present teams in the World Cup.

The Indomitable Lions have been a prominent fixture in African football history, having qualified for the World Cup eight times. Their most notable achievement came in the 1990 edition in Italy, where they famously reached the quarter-finals.

Cameroon's absence from the 2026 tournament will leave a significant gap in African representation on the global stage. The Cameroonian national team has consistently proven to be a formidable opponent in every World Cup edition they have participated in.