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African results justify World Cup slots increase amid criticism

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi (L) and France forward Kylian Mbappe fight for the ball during a World Cup quarter-final.
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi (L) and France forward Kylian Mbappe fight for the ball during a World Cup quarter-final. © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

Johannesburg (AFP) – When four-time World Cup winners Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament, then head coach Gennaro Gattuso lamented that Africa had so many places at the global showcase.

"Africa deserves fewer World Cup slots," he said, referring to the number of automatic qualifying places allocated to that continent rising from five to nine in an expanded 48-nation event.

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