Man United could get Bryan Mbeumo nightmare scenario as cost of World Cup failure explained

The Manchester United star hopes to lead his nation to next summer's World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Bryan Mbeumo will be eager to help Cameroon reach the World Cup, but that ambition could come at a cost for Manchester United.

Cameroon drew 0-0 with Angola on Monday and currently sits four points behind group leaders Cape Verde, who have already qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Mbeumo and Andre Onana, on loan at Trabzonspor, hope to see a similar outcome for their nation, but Cameroon must wait to find out if finishing second will secure a play-off spot.

The goalless draw means Cameroon now relies on other results to determine their fate, with DR Congo, Uganda, or Nigeria still in contention to overtake them. Should they finish among the four best group runners-up, Cameroon would enter the Confederation of African Football (CAF) play-offs to decide who advances to the inter-confederation stage.

If Cameroon reach the CAF play-offs, they are scheduled for the next international break in November. Winners would then face a second play-off to reach FIFA's inter-confederation tournament, which will feature teams from CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North America), OFC (Oceania), and AFC (Asia).

In total, Cameroon could play up to four high-stakes matches - two CAF and two inter-confederation - to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

CAF has confirmed that tied matches will go to extra time and, if needed, penalty shootouts, with teams allowed five substitutions, plus a sixth in extra time. Meanwhile, the inter-confederation play-off tournament is set to take place in Mexico in late March 2026.

If the Indomitable Lions fail to qualify for the 48-team tournament, it would be only the third time since 1986 that they have missed out, having taken part in Italia 1990, USA 1994, France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, and Qatar 2022.

With a gruelling Premier League run from November to March, any injury or fatigue from travelling that affects Mbeumo could seriously impact United's ambitions for the season.

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