What's happened
A roundup of how African, Arab and European teams are finalising squads and tactics for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Managers reshuffle, injuries and tactical changes shape expectations as teams prepare to the tournament. The Guardian and other outlets report on Egypt, DR Congo, Jordan, Tunisia, and more as they approach their first appearances or campaigns.
What's behind the headline?
- Focus on how teams have evolved tactically as they approach the World Cup. - Note defensive solidity in DR Congo and evolving formations. - Highlight Egypt’s blend of cohesion and reliance on Salah. - Mention Jordan’s confidence facing Messi and Argentina. - Acknowledge Tunisia’s youth-driven rebuild and Sarabi Lamouchi’s changes. - Emphasise the broader narrative of Arab and African teams seeking to break group-stage or knockout-stage barriers.
- Do not infer beyond the sources about outcomes; report ongoing preparation and quoted sentiments.
How we got here
The provided articles cover preparations and qualifications across Africa and the Arab world, including Egypt under Hossam Hassan, DR Congo under Sebastien Desabre, Jordan under Jamal Sellami, Tunisia under Sabri Lamouchi, and Iraq under Graham Arnold. The stories reflect managerial changes, tactical evolutions, and injuries ahead of the 2026 finals in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Our analysis
The Guardian (multiple experts’ network pieces on Egypt, DR Congo, Jordan, Tunisia, Iraq, and Tunisia), The New Arab (Egypt, 2026 World Cup context), SBS (Curaçao/Jamaica), New York Post (France/Ivory Coast prep), The Guardian (Iraq/Australia story).
Go deeper
- What tactical change is most likely to impact a team’s World Cup performance?
- Which team has the strongest defensive record ahead of the tournament?
- Which player is expected to be the breakout star for their nation?
More on these topics
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Egypt - Country
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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Mohamed Salah - Egyptian footballer
Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly is an Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Liverpool and the Egypt national team.
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Leandro Bacuna - Footballer
Leandro Jones Johan Bacuna is a professional footballer who plays for EFL Championship club Cardiff City as a midfielder or right-back.
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Jamaica - Country in the Caribbean
Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean.
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Argentina - Country in South America
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country located mostly in the southern half of South America. Sharing the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, the country is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the
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Jordan - Country in the Middle East
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an Arab country in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and the east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and Israel and Palestine
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Tunisia - Country in North Africa
Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa, covering 163,610 square kilometres. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent.
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Iraq - Country in the Middle East
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west.
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Saudi Arabia - Country in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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The New Arab
The New Arab or Al-Araby Al-Jadeed is a pan-Arab media outlet headquartered in London. It was first launched in March 2014 as an online news website by Qatari company Fadaat Media. It went on to establish a daily newspaper in September 2014.
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The Guardian - Newspaper
The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian, and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers The Observer and The Guardian Weekly, The Guardian is part of the Guardian Media Group, owned by the S