adminThe FIFA World Cup is the biggest event in the world of sport. The entire planet comes together to watch the best of the best battle for the most iconic trophy in sport.
South American side Argentina arrives as the team with the trophy in their cabinet, but the likes of France, Brazil, England and Spain will all have aspirations of lifting the trophy in 2026, but what of Zimbabwe?
Qualification for the tournament has not started well. Their first cluster of matches began in November 2023, with two games then played in June 2024.
After four games, Zimbabwe sit at the bottom of Group C with two points from a possible 12 having drawn twice, lost twice and failed to win.
In a group that also contains both South Africa and Nigeria, Zimbabwe were always going to need to start well and enjoy some luck. They failed to start well or get that slice of luck in a campaign that is yet to spark into life.
While they did secure two impressive draws against current table topper Rwanda and then against Nigeria, they were then beaten by Lesotho 2-0 before losing 3-1 to South Africa, who are favourites to qualify according to leading South African betting site .
Matchday five and six take place in March of 2025, seven and eight are played next September, while nine and 10 bring the first round to a close in October 2025.
With six games and 18 points still up for grabs, Zimbabwe are far from out of the running. Indeed, their poor start still only sees them five points behind Rwanda at the summit, with the leaders hardly perfect, losing one and drawing one of their opening four.
A home game against Benin is their next chance to secure points before they travel to take on Nigeria. Games seven and eight will see the nation play Benin on the road before they host Rwanda. Their first round qualifying campaign is brought to an end when they host South Africa and then travel to take on Lesotho.
With more matches to come than they have already played, how can Zimbabwe make it to the 2026 World Cup?
The qualification process sees the top side in each of the nine groups take their place in the 2026 World Cup. Rwanda currently sit at the top of Group C and would take that place. The sides that finish in second have the chance to move into the second round of qualifying.
Those in second place are given a ‘chance’ of making the second round as the top-four sides from the nine groups will battle in the play-offs to decide which team will more into the inter-confederation play-offs. The top-four is runners-up are decided by the points they have collected.
The play-offs will be a best of one match with two semi-finals followed by a final. If Zimbabwe were to make it into the second round and then win their semi-final and final, they would join teams around the world.
They would include nations from the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) and OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) along with two CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) nations in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Here, teams will be ranked according to their FIFA world rankings. The four lowest ranked nations will play in two single-elimination clashes. The winners of these matches will face the two higher ranked sides in a single-elimination game. The winner of these two matches will take their place at the 2026 World Cup.
The route to qualifying via the second round and beyond is wrought with danger. There will be some very strong teams waiting in the inter-confederation play-offs. This is without taking into account the quality and talent of the other three African sides that would be alongside Zimbabwe if they were to qualify as one of the four best runners-up.
With so many games between now and the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs, Zimbabwe simply need to take this qualifying process one step at a time. Their next match is against a Benin side in good form having won their last two. If Zimbabwe win their match, then they will put themselves back in the mix.
However, having never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, it is tough to see Zimbabwe turning things around and debuting at the competition hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
As mentioned, their qualifying campaign needs to be taken one game at a time as they look to end their long wait to rub shoulders with the best in the world at the biggest event in sport.
Online Reporter