June 13, 2026. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Brazil — five-time world champions, the most successful nation in the history of the tournament — takes the field against Morocco, the team that made the entire continent of Africa erupt with pride when they reached the semifinal in Qatar 2022, becoming the first African side ever to do so. This is not a game on a distant continent that you will watch alone at 3 a.m. This is happening two and a half hours from Washington, D.C. And it is just the beginning. The 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — is the most expansive World Cup in history, featuring 48 nations across 104 matches. For the African Diaspora community in the DMV, this tournament is not just a sporting event to follow on television. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experience the world’s game at the highest level, within driving or train distance, with African and African American communities across the East Coast turning every watch party, every bar, every community center into a cultural celebration. Here is everything the DMV’s African Diaspora community needs to know about the 2026 World Cup — from the matches that matter most and where to watch them, to what the tournament means for the continent and the community right here at home. Ten African Nations. One Summer. The Continent Has Never Been More Represented. The 2026 World Cup features ten African nations — the largest representation the continent has ever had at a single tournament. The expanded 48-team format created four additional slots for the CAF confederation, and African football seized every one of them. The ten African nations competing in 2026: Senegal (Group I — France, Norway, Iraq) — The AFCON 2025 champions, led by the legendary Sadio Mané in what may be his final World Cup Morocco (Group C — Brazil, Haiti, Scotland) — The Atlas Lions who made history reaching the 2022 Qatar semifinal and arriving in 2026 as AFCON title holders Algeria (Group J — Argentina, Austria, Jordan) — The Desert Warriors with their passionate, vocal support base including a large community right here in the DMV Egypt (Group G — Belgium, New Zealand) — Mohamed Salah’s Pharaohs, among the most popular African teams across the entire diaspora Ghana (Group L — England, Croatia) — The Black Stars, always dramatic, always generating emotion across the Ghanaian diaspora community Ivory Coast (Group E — Ecuador, Germany, Curacao) — Fresh off their AFCON 2023 triumph on home soil, the Elephants bring star power and passion Tunisia (Group F) — North Africa’s consistent World Cup presence, competing in their sixth tournament South Africa (Group A — Mexico, Korea, Czechia) — Bafana Bafana, the hosts of the legendary 2010 World Cup, back on the global stage Cape Verde (Group H — Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay) — One of the tournament’s most exciting smaller nations, known for their attacking flair DR Congo (Group K) — Making only their third World Cup appearance, bringing one of the continent’s most passionate fan bases to the global stage For a DMV community with deep roots in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Morocco and across the continent, nearly every African team on this list has a constituency right here in the region. The Matches Every DMV African Diaspora Fan Must Know — And Where to Watch Them The closest World Cup venues to the DMV are MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia — both accessible by train from Washington, D.C. in under three hours. Here are the African nation matches you absolutely need on your calendar: At MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey): June 13 — Brazil vs. Morocco, 6:00 PM ET (Group C): The match that opens MetLife’s World Cup schedule is a dream fixture. Brazil chasing redemption after a painful Qatar 2022 quarter-final exit. Morocco defending their status as Africa’s greatest footballing achievement in decades. This game will be felt across every African household in the DMV June 16 — France vs. Senegal, 3:00 PM ET (Group I): One of the most emotionally charged matches of the entire group stage. Senegal — still navigating the AFCON 2025 controversy — faces France in a rematch of the 2002 World Cup opener, when Senegal shocked the defending champions in one of the greatest upsets in tournament history. The DMV’s large Senegalese diaspora community will make this a landmark day June 22 — Norway vs. Senegal, 8:00 PM ET (Group I): Senegal’s second group match. A crucial game that could determine whether the Lions of Teranga advance from an extremely competitive group At Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia): June 22 — France vs. Iraq, 5:00 PM ET (Group I): France’s second group match. If Senegal beats France on June 16, this game takes on even more drama Multiple additional group stage matches — Philadelphia hosts several Group stage fixtures. Check the full schedule for matches involving Ghana, Algeria, Ivory Coast and other African nations across the tournament calendar Tickets are sold through FIFA’s official platform at FIFA.com. Some matches still have limited availability. Act quickly — and know that the train from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to New Jersey is one of the most accessible World Cup travel options on the East Coast. Senegal vs. France: The Match the Entire African Diaspora Will Be Watching Of all the matches on the 2026 World Cup schedule, one stands apart for the African Diaspora community: France vs. Senegal on June 16 at MetLife Stadium. The historical resonance is extraordinary. In the 2002 World Cup opener in Seoul, South Korea, Senegal delivered one of the greatest upsets in football history — beating the reigning world champions France 1-0 through a goal from Papa Bouba Diop. The streets of Dakar erupted. The African continent celebrated. It remains one of the defining moments in African football history. Now the two nations meet again — at MetLife Stadium, which will host