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Super Eagles have congratulated Spain on winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 while pledging to return to football’s biggest stage at the next edition of the tournament in 2030.
Shortly after Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday’s final, the Super Eagles shared a brief but symbolic message on their official X account.
“Congratulations to Spain on winning the FIFAWorldCup2026#. See you in 2030.”
While congratulating the newly crowned world champions, the message also reflected Nigeria’s determination to end their absence from the FIFA World Cup after failing to qualify for the last two editions.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, featured an expanded 48-team format, increasing Africa’s allocation to nine automatic qualification places and one intercontinental playoff spot.
Despite the additional qualification opportunities and a squad boasting several players competing in Europe’s top leagues, Nigeria missed out on the tournament for the second consecutive time.
The Super Eagles, runners-up at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saw their qualification hopes ended after a heartbreaking playoff defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat, Morocco.
Following a 1-1 draw after extra time, Nigeria lost 4-3 in the penalty shootout, extending their FIFA World Cup drought to eight years after also missing the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The back-to-back failures have been a major disappointment for one of Africa’s most successful football nations, which has qualified for six FIFA World Cups and reached the Round of 16 on three occasions.
The Super Eagles’ message has already resonated with supporters, many of whom hope it signals the beginning of a renewed drive to restore Nigeria’s place among football’s elite.
The FIFA World Cup 2030, which will mark the tournament’s centenary, will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with commemorative opening matches scheduled to be staged in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
For head coach Eric Chelle and his squad, the focus will now shift to building a team capable of ending Nigeria’s World Cup exile. Qualification is expected to begin in the coming years, and the three-time African champions will be aiming to honour their public pledge by securing a place at the historic tournament.
After consecutive qualification disappointments, returning to the FIFA World Cup has become one of the Super Eagles’ biggest priorities as they seek to restore confidence among supporters and re-establish Nigeria as a force on the global stage.
