Between June 11 and July 19, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will co-host the twenty-third FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams. One of the tournament's features will be significant representation from the Middle East and North Africa, which will send ten teams. Both in absolute and proportional terms, this will be the region's most representative World Cup, a reflection of broader changes in its footballing landscape, driven by institutional investment and player development at home and across diaspora communities.

The tournament brings together a wide range of national stories. For some countries, qualification for the World Cup itself is a milestone; for others, the focus has shifted to advancing further in the competition. Across all ten teams, the World Cup serves as a platform for international visibility and sporting ambition. What constitutes success, however, varies considerably.

Algeria: Algeria’s national team occupies an important place domestically and in relation to its large diaspora communities, particularly in Europe, where football often serves as an expression of transnational Algerian identity.

The Fennecs are currently the fourth-highest ranked Middle Eastern and North African team in the FIFA world rankings. The benchmark remains the 2014 World Cup, when Algeria reached the round of sixteen before narrowly losing to eventual champions Germany after extra time.

Reaching that stage again in its fifth World Cup would constitute success, given the quality of Algeria's players abroad. Rival Morocco's recent achievements will also inevitably raise expectations among Algeria supporters.

Egypt: Egypt remains Africa’s most successful national team at the continental level, but its World Cup record has not reflected that status. This will be its fourth appearance, having missed Qatar 2022. Much of the focus will fall on Mohamed Salah and whether the Pharaohs can convert world-class individual talent into collective performance.

Qualification carries expectations beyond participation for the nation of 120 million. With Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand in its group, and a format that enables some third-placed teams to progress, Egypt will view reaching the knockout stage as a realistic target. A successful tournament would likely require Egypt to record its first-ever win in a World Cup game.

Iran: Iran enters the World Cup as one of the region’s most consistent performers, having qualified for four consecutive tournaments. Team Melli operates in a context in which football can serve as both a shared national reference point and a site of political contestation. Iran’s participation comes amid ongoing tensions with the United States, giving its matches on U.S. soil added political sensitivity.

Two group-stage matches will take place in Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian diaspora, where FIFA’s ban on the pre-revolutionary flag has already become a source of controversy. On the field, Iran remains one of Asia’s strongest sides and will be expected to advance from a manageable group. A second-place finish would likely set up a knockout game with the United States (or Türkiye) in Texas on July 3.

Iraq: No member of Iraq’s current team was born the last (and only other) time the country qualified for a World Cup 40 years ago. The gifted generation that made it to Mexico ’86 was overshadowed by political interference during the Saddam Hussein era. Today, the national team remains a rare source of national cohesion amid political fragmentation, capable of generating identification across sectarian and ethnic lines.

The Lions of Mesopotamia face a difficult group with France, Norway, and Senegal, though the third-place qualification pathway leaves open a route to progression for a team capable of disciplined performances. Success will be defined less by results than by competitiveness and reestablishing Iraq as a presence at this level.

Jordan: Jordan’s first qualification for a World Cup is a historic milestone for the country of 11.5 million. After reaching the finals of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation’s Asian Cup and the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, Jordan enters the tournament with a breakthrough generation. Football remains an important expression of national unity, and Al-Nashama’s success is likely to be viewed in those terms.

On the pitch, expectations should remain modest. A successful campaign would see Jordan prove competitive, avoid heavy defeats, and potentially take a point from one of its group opponents (Argentina, Algeria, or Austria). Progression beyond the group stage would rank among the greatest achievements in Jordanian footballing history.

Morocco: Morocco arrives at the 2026 World Cup no longer an underdog. Its 2022 semifinal run made it the first African or Arab team to reach that stage. Since then, Morocco has won the 2025 African Cup of Nations (and the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup). The question is not whether it can progress from a group with Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, but how far the Atlas Lions can go in the knockouts and whether they can compete consistently against international heavyweights. Reaching (at least) the quarter-finals would reinforce the idea that 2022 was not an exception but part of a broader footballing rise, particularly ahead of Morocco co-hosting the World Cup in 2030.

Qatar: Qatar enters the 2026 World Cup in a different role from 2022, when it hosted the tournament. This time, the Maroon team had to qualify for its place. The tournament represents an opportunity for Qatar to show that, alongside the success of its investments in European football, Qatar’s two decades of investment in infrastructure and talent development at home can translate into national team competitiveness. With co-hosts Canada, Switzerland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in their group, a first-ever win in a World Cup game for the Asian champions would be considered a success.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is home to one of the region’s most ambitious football development projects, closely linked to its broader strategy for international visibility. The kingdom will host the 2034 World Cup; its national team performances this year will be viewed in the team’s longer-term development context.

Since its debut in 1994, Saudi Arabia has qualified for seven World Cups, but reached the knockout stage only once, on debut in the United States. Its group includes Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. While expectations will remain cautious, the Green Falcons have previously shown the capacity for surprise results against higher-ranked opposition. Success this year will likely be defined as reaching the knockout stage, most realistically via a third-place group finish.

Tunisia: Tunisia is one of the Middle East and North Africa’s most regular World Cup participants, with 2026 marking its seventh appearance, though its record has followed a familiar pattern of competitiveness without breakthrough. In a country marked by political uncertainty since 2011, the national team remains one institution capable of generating national attention and pride. Its 2022 victory over a French side that had rested its starters, but was still very strong, was a reminder of this capacity. In a difficult group with the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden, the Eagles of Carthage will rely on discipline. The expanded format may slightly improve the prospects of qualification via a third-place finish. Success would be reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

Türkiye: Türkiye’s absence from the last five World Cups has contrasted with its strong domestic football culture and talented players competing in Europe’s top leagues. Its return, therefore, has provoked significant national excitement, ending a prolonged absence inconsistent with Turkish fans’ footballing ambitions.

Türkiye’s benchmark remains the 2002 World Cup, when it finished third in only its second participation, a result that continues to shape expectations. With the United States, Paraguay, and Australia in their group, the Crescent-Stars will be expected to reach the knockout stage. Anything less would likely be viewed as underperformance. Their final group match in Los Angeles against the United States has already begun drawing political attention beyond sport.