WAFCON 2026 Quarterfinals: Crucial Matches for World Cup Dreams

WHO:

Yahoo Sports - Thembi Kgatlana scored two critical goals for South Africa to help her team reach the WAFCON quarterfinals.

OkayAfrica - The Chawinga sisters have combined for five goals to help fuel Malawi's run in the tournament.

Yahoo Sports - Thembi Kgatlana, Hildah Magaia, Kautar Azraf, Ghizlane Chebbak, Grace Sery, N'Sira Ouedraogo, Inès Konan, Marie Ngah, Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga.

Yahoo Sports - Ivory Coast, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Thembi Kgatlana, Hildah Magaia, Kautar Azraf, Ghizlane Chebbak, Grace Sery, N'Sira Ouedraogo, Inès Konan, Marie Ngah, Temwa Chawinga.

OkayAfrica - Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Uganda's parliament, U.S. President Trump.

The New York Times - Confederation of African Football (CAF), Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

Just Women's Sports - Malawi, Zambia, Barbra Banda, Super Falcons.

WHAT:

Yahoo Sports - Cameroon will face Nigeria in the quarterfinals on Sunday, August 9, after finishing Group D unbeaten with two wins and a draw, conceding just two goals.

OkayAfrica - Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, is playing in their first-ever WAFCON and will meet Ghana in the quarterfinals on Sunday, August 9.

The New York Times - The quarterfinals will conclude with Malawi playing Ghana, with the winner potentially becoming the lowest-ranked Women’s World Cup qualifier in history.

Yahoo Sports - Ivory Coast will face Algeria on Saturday, Aug. 8, to open the knockout phase of the WAFCON quarterfinals.

Yahoo Sports - Hosts Morocco will take on South Africa later on Saturday, Aug. 8, in a repeat of the 2022 WAFCON final.

OkayAfrica - The quarterfinals will conclude with Malawi playing Ghana on Sunday, Aug. 9.

OkayAfrica - The four teams that reach the semifinals will automatically earn places in Brazil for the Women's World Cup scheduled for June and July 2027.

Just Women's Sports - If Malawi defeats Ghana, they would become the lowest-ranked Women’s World Cup qualifier in history.

Yahoo Sports - South Africa fell behind Ivory Coast 2-0 in their second group game but managed to earn a crucial point with goals from Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia.

OkayAfrica - Nigeria's Super Falcons, winners of the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, will face Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

Yahoo Sports - Ivory Coast was admitted to the tournament last November after CAF expanded it from 12 teams to 16.

OkayAfrica - Malawi is ranked 153rd in the world and is playing in their first-ever WAFCON.

The New York Times - The four teams that reach the semifinals will automatically earn places in Brazil for the Women's World Cup scheduled for June and July 2027.

Just Women's Sports - If Malawi defeats Ghana, they would become the lowest-ranked Women’s World Cup qualifier in history.

Yahoo Sports - The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinal matches are set, with teams competing for World Cup qualification.

OkayAfrica - Four teams will qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil from the WAFCON quarterfinals.

The New York Times - The quarterfinals include matches between Ivory Coast and Algeria, Morocco and South Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria, and Malawi and Ghana.

Just Women's Sports - Malawi emerged from Group C after a tiebreaker, and if they defeat Ghana, they would become the lowest-ranked Women’s World Cup qualifier in history.

WHERE:

Yahoo Sports - The matches will take place in Morocco, specifically in Rabat and Casablanca.

OkayAfrica - The quarterfinals are held in Morocco.

WHEN:

Yahoo Sports - The quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9.

OkayAfrica - The semifinal winners will advance on Wednesday, with the final set for August 16 in Rabat.

Yahoo Sports - The playoff bracket for the four losing teams will take place on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Yahoo Sports - The quarterfinals will conclude with matches on Sunday, August 9, featuring Cameroon vs. Nigeria and Malawi vs. Ghana.

OkayAfrica - The semifinal winners will advance on Wednesday, with the final set for August 16 in Rabat.

Yahoo Sports - The quarterfinals will conclude with matches on Sunday, August 9.

OkayAfrica - The World Cup is set to run from June 24 to July 25, 2027.

Yahoo Sports - The playoff bracket for the four losing teams will take place on Thursday, August 13.

Yahoo Sports - The quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9.

OkayAfrica - The final is set for August 16.

Just Women's Sports - The WAFCON quarterfinals kick off tomorrow at 1 PM ET.

WHY:

Yahoo Sports - The tournament serves as Africa's qualifying route for the 2027 Women's World Cup.

The New York Times - Teams are competing for automatic spots in the World Cup.

HOW:

Just Women's Sports - The four losing teams from the quarterfinals will face each other in a playoff bracket on Thursday, August 13, for additional World Cup qualification opportunities.

Yahoo Sports - The winners of the playoff fixtures will compete against eight more teams from other confederations in a playoff tournament taking place in November, December, and February to decide the final three World Cup contestants.

Yahoo Sports - The four losing teams from the quarterfinals will face each other in a playoff bracket on Thursday, August 13, for additional World Cup qualification opportunities.

Yahoo Sports - The four teams that reach the semifinals will automatically earn places in the World Cup.

OkayAfrica - The four losing teams will face each other in a playoff bracket for additional World Cup qualification opportunities.

Cameroon is set to clash with Nigeria in the quarterfinals on Sunday, August 9, after finishing Group D unbeaten with two wins and a draw, allowing only two goals. Meanwhile, Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world and making their debut in the WAFCON, will also face Ghana on the same day, with the potential for the winner to become the lowest-ranked Women’s World Cup qualifier in history. Following the quarterfinals, the four losing teams will compete in a playoff bracket on Thursday, August 13, for additional chances at World Cup qualification.