The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today, Thursday, 11th June, 2026, marking football’s grandest stage. This historic tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, features 48 teams spread across 12 groups labeled A through L, with 16 host cities staging 104 matches.
The opening match kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa, while the final will be held on 19th July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The qualified teams by grouping include Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Czech Republic in Group A; Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B; Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C; United States, Australia, Paraguay, and TĆ¼rkiye in Group D; Germany, CuraƧao, CĆ“te d’Ivoire, and Ecuador in Group E.
Others are Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, and Sweden in Group F; Belgium, Iran, Egypt, and New Zealand in Group G; Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde in Group H; France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq in Group I; Argentina, Austria, Algeria, and Jordan in Group J; Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo in Group K; and England, Croatia, Panama, and Ghana in Group L. Nigeria failed to build on their perfect start against DR Congo, which won on penalty shootout in Morocco’s Rabat on 16th November, 2025. Despite stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi, Nigeria fell short during the two-year qualification journey and got eliminated in Africa’s playoff final. The last time Nigeria participated was the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, their sixth and most recent appearance.
Nigeria can upgrade its footballing profile through four critical interventions. First, professionalise the NPFL by transforming it into a commercially viable, modern league with stable funding and better infrastructure. Elite academies should be strengthened by implementing modern training methods, standardising coaching education nationwide, and enhancing scouting networks across all states. NFF should organise regular youth competitions at U13, U15, U17, and U20 levels to develop talent systematically. Also, local player participation should be boosted Sby increasing the hunger factor in Super Eagles squads, prioritising NPFL players who fight harder for selection because football represents life or death for them.
The golden era under Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo proved the power of mixing local and international talent. During that period, local talents like Peter Rufai, Uche Okafor, Augustine Eguavoen, and Michael Emenalo played alongside international stars Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, and Rashidi Yekini, producing the best Super Eagles ever. Yekini scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal in 1994, while Okocha and Kanu became global legends under Westerhof’s transformative coaching. Early preparation must begin for the 2030 World Cup, hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The NFF must stabilise administration, implement long-term planning, and balance local-international player selection to restore Nigeria’s African dominance.
