World Cup 2026 draw live updates

By Olayonwa Toyib -
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World Cup 2026 draw live updates: Results, groups and match schedule from today’s ceremony World Cup draw results — reaction The United States will play Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner in Group D of next summer’s World Cup. The draw for the tournament took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and followed President Donald Trump receiving the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. Dutch feeling happy with their draw Optimism and relief could be a good way to describe the Netherlands’ feelings about the World Cup draw. They have been placed into Group F alongside Japan, Tunisia and one of Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden. Getting Japan instead of a top-ranked CONMEBOL team might seem like a tough break. But there are five Japan internationals in the Eredivisie, such as Ayase Ueda, Ko Itakura, and Tsuyoshi Watanabe, and that knowledge could play to Ronald Koeman's advantage. Tunisia will be challenging, so too the European playoff winner, but Oranje s...
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CAF Awards 2025

By Olayonwa Toyib -

CAF Awards 2025: How Africa’s top men’s players, coaches and teams made the shortlist


CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR


Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)

Salah helped guide Liverpool to the Premier League title in the 2024/25 season and was unstoppable with 29 goals and 18 assists in 38 starts in the competition for a total of 47 goal contributions. He also helped Egypt to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification.


Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)

Right-back Hakimi was outstanding as Paris St Germain lifted the UEFA Champions League title and also won the French Ligue 1, Coupe de France and UEFA Super Cup, along with reaching the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. He also helped Morocco to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification.


Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)

Striker Osimhen continues to be a prolific goalscorer for Galatasaray and managed 37 in 41 appearances in the 2024/25 season. He has kept up that form into the new campaign.


CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Munir Mohamedi (Morocco / RS Berkane)
Mohamedi played a key role in helping RS Berkane to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title and their maiden Moroccan Botola Pro title in 2025.

Yassine Bonou (Morocco / Al Hilal)
Bonou has been a model of consistency for several years and was the same again in 2025 for Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal and the Morocco national team, who he helped to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. He was named in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI in 2025.


Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Williams helped Mamelodi Sundowns to their eighth Betway Premiership title in a row and captained Bafana Bafana to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification, as well as assisting the Brazilians to reach the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.


CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids)
Mayele finished as the leading scorer in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in the 2024/25 season, with his nine goals playing a crucial role in Egyptian club Pyramids lifting the trophy for the first time.

Mohamed Chibi (Morocco / Pyramids)
Right-back Chibi was outstanding for Pyramids as they claimed the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League in the 2024/25 season, with his attacking threat from the flank coupled with excellent defending.


Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / RS Berkane)
The striker netted six goals in helping RS Berkane to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title, many of them crucial. He was also influential in a maiden Botola Pro title win for the Moroccan club.

 

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR

Bubista (Cape Verde)
Bubista led Cape Verde to their maiden FIFA World Cup qualification as they topped a group that also included Cameroon to reach the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.


Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)
Morocco lifted the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025 trophy when they defeated Argentina 2-0 in the final, capping an excellent run in the competition under coach Ouahbi.

Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Morocco have won every game they have played under Regragui in 2025 as they eased to qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they will seek to improve on their record semi-final showing in Qatar in 2022.


CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco / Ajax)
Midfielder Ouazane was superb in guiding Morocco to the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations title, where the 16-year-old was named Player of the Tournament.

Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford)
Winger Maamma played a starring role for Morocco as they lifted the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025 trophy. He also had a breakthrough season at French Ligue 1 side Montpellier before moving to Watford.


Tylon Smith (South Africa / Queens Park Rangers)

Smith was a stalwart centre-back for South Africa as they claimed the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time and was named Player of the Tournament. That earned him a move to Queens Park Rangers.


CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR


Cape Verde

Cape Verde were superb in qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be their maiden appearance at the global showpiece event.

Morocco

Morocco have had an excellent 2025, which includes lifting the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 title when they defeated Madagascar in the final in Nairobi.


Morocco U-20

Morocco won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025 for the first time with an excellent run through the tournament and a 2-0 win over Argentina in the final.


CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR


Pyramids

Pyramids lifted the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/25 trophy when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the final, their maiden win in Africa's elite club competition.


RS Berkane

RS Berkane became joint record three-time winners of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup in 2025 and also won a maiden Moroccan Botola Pro title to cap a wonderful year.


Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns extended their record number of consecutive South African league title wins to eight and also reached the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/25. They impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup as well.


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