Music of African World Cup '26 Teams

Feature June 10, 2026

World Cup fever is about to sweep the planet as an estimated 3.5 billion fans will tune in to watch 104 matches in Mexico, Canada and the U.S June 11-July 19.

Fans of African football/soccer are especially excited that ten African countries made the Finals this year. And fans of South American football will cheer on six teams.

Sports stars and musical stars are the most popular personalities in the world. To communicate with the youth in your country, you definitely want a football or musical star on your side and super stars will definitely be created during the 2026 World Cup.

To round out the sports pictures of the competing World Cup countries, we at Afropop Worldwide offer country and artist profiles from our archives. See the links below. And if you want more, go to afropop.org and search on any artist, style, city, country, etc. You won’t be disappointed!

Here are the opening matches for the African teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

African Team	Opening Match	Dates
Norway	vs Senegal	June 22, 2026
Jordan	vs Algeria	June 22, 2026
England	vs Ghana	June 23, 2026
Colombia	vs Congo DR	June 23, 2026
Morocco	vs Haiti	June 24, 2026
South Africa	vs Korea	June 24, 2026
Curacao	vs Ivory Coast	June 25, 2026
Tunisia	vs Netherlands	June 25, 2026
Senegal	vs Iraq	June 26, 2026
Cape Verde	vs Saudi Arabia	June 26. 2026

Croatia	vs Ghana	June 27, 2026
DR Congo	vs Uzbekista	June 27, 2026
Algeria	vs Austria	June 27, 2026
Egypt	vs Iran	June 26, 2026

...

For an Afropop Worldwide deep dive into the musical cultures behind the African teams, here are some audio highlights to begin your exploration.

Teno Afrika

Amapiano to the World

South Africa’s best-known global pop style today is amapiano.

Spiritual Journeys: Traveling Spirit Masters, the Gnawa of Morocco

Gnawa people were brought from sub-Saharan Africa to the kingdom of Morocco centuries ago as slaves where they excelled as soldiers, musicians, healers and more.

Tyrane Mondeni

Abidjan a Musical Eldorado

Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire draws top performing and recording artists from all over West Africa.

Stambeli: Music That Heals from Tunisia

The Tunisian Stambeli and Moroccan Gnawa traditions do more than entertain. They heal.

A Tribute to Cesária Évora

We pay tribute to the island’s most beloved diva who brought Cape Verdean roots music--the morna, coladeira--to the world. Also featured in the program are today’s evocative young women singers following in her footsteps.

Kickin It in Cabo Verde: A Visit to the Atlantic Music Expo in Cabo Verde

The annual Atlantic Music Expo in Cabo Verde draws world class international, regional and local artists.

Living Traditions

Egypt is rich in indigenous culture from the amorous odes of desert Bedouins to the keening boom and blare of a Zeffa wedding procession. New Cairo venues now present Nubian music, ancient sounds from the Delta and Suez regions, and even the music of the zar healing ritual—elevating these forms above touristic fare found on Nile Cruises and in old Cairo. This Hip Deep edition, rich with recordings made in the field, offers a sonic map of Egypt’s traditional life, culminating in the ecstasy of a Sufi saint celebration—a mouled.

Cairo Underground

Beyond the safe pop and religious music in Egypt, there is hip hop, heavy metal, techno shaabi, and all kinds of experimental music.

Revolution Songs

Remember the Egypt revolution of 2011? We do...

Cairo Soundscape

Artists heard on this program include Naseer Shamma, Mohamed Mounir, Salma el Assal, Warda, and Hakim.

Dakar Dancing and Casamance Roots

Join Afropop’s 2026 dive into urban nightlife in the city of mbalax, and the living traditions of the southern region of Casamance.

Mbalax Fever

Percussion intensive mbalax music is Senegal’s favorite dance music. Made famous globally by Senegal’s #1 star, Youssou n’Dour.

Living Room Session with Aba Diop

Super-hot, percussion-driven live set from Aba Diop and the Yermande Family.

The Story of Räi

Räi music is the signature pop music of Algeria. Khaled was the man who brought the sound to the world.

Khaled Speaks

Read our most extensive interview with the man himself.

21^st Century Accra from Gospel to Hiplife

We’ll dig into GH rap, trad sounds, the Asanto Dance Craze and lots more

Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-funk

While in Ghana in the spring of 2013, the Afropop team spent a number of days with legendary composer, arranger, guitarist, and bandleader Ebo Taylor. Still active—very active!—at 77, Ebo gave us an education on highlife and Afro-funk, a genre he helped to create it he late ‘60s and early ‘70s. In the first part of a lengthy interview, Banning Eyre, Sean Barlow, and Mark LeVine talk with Ebo about his beginnings, the advent of James Brown, and the creation of Afro-funk.

Celebrating Grand Master Franco

Congolese singer, composer, guitarist and bandleader, Luambo Makiadi Franco was one of Africa’s most brilliant artists of the 20^th century. His vast repertoire of songs stand the test of time to this day.

Four Generations of Congolese Music

Congo has always played an oversize role in entertaining dance lovers on the continent and beyond--Franco, Tabu Ley, Doctor Nico, Zaiko Langa Langa, Papa Wemba, Pepe Kalle, and others. We start in pre-independence Congo with the beloved "Papa" Wendo Kolossoy (RIP), the grandfather of rumba, as he talks with us at his home in Kinshasa. We talk to the man and listen in on a recording session. After sitting out most of the 3-decade Mobutu era, Wendo put together a band of veterans with stories to tell, and sweet melodies and rhythms to share. We also talk with the legendary singer and composer Simaro Lutumba who sat at the right hand of Franco. We catch Simaro rehearsing his band, Bana OK. We also check in with dueling superstars Werrason and JB Mpiana.

Congolese Music - The Fifth Generation

In the early 2000s, Afropop told the story of “Four Generations” in Congolese music—from rumba and rumba-rock to soukous and ndombolo. Now time has marched on, and once again, thrilling new sounds are emerging from Kinshasa and its global diaspora. We’ll hear hyper-kinetic root-rock from Jupiter and Okwess, Fally Ipupa’s embrace of the current Afrobeats trend, experimental innovations from Pierre Kwenders in Montreal, and more. We’ll also speak with Congolese music connoisseur Lubangi Muniania for insights into the latest trends in one of Africa’s greatest musical powerhouses.