Algeria at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Algeria are making their fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 2026, having previously participated in 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014. Their debut in 1982 was historic: they became the first African team to defeat a European side at a World Cup, beating West Germany 2-1, and the first African team to win two matches at a single tournament. Despite their strong showing, Algeria were controversially eliminated when the final group game between West Germany and Austria produced a result that suited both opponents. Their best finish remains the round of 16 in 2014, where they pushed eventual champions Germany to extra time before losing 2-1.

Qualification

Algeria returned to the World Cup after a twelve-year absence by winning CAF qualifying Group G, which also included Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, and Somalia. They finished seven points clear of runners-up Uganda, recording eight wins and one draw from ten matches, with only one defeat. Qualification was secured with a 3-0 victory over Somalia on the penultimate matchday in October 2025. Algeria did not need to enter the CAF playoff rounds, qualifying directly as group winners. The campaign represented a significant turnaround for a squad that had failed to qualify for Qatar 2022.

Preparation

Algeria is coached by Vladimir Petkovic, the former Switzerland and Albania head coach, who took charge in February 2024. In the March 2026 international window, Algeria played warm-up friendlies against Guatemala (won 7-0) and Uruguay (0-0). Petkovic opened his pre-World Cup assessment camp at the Sidi-Moussa national technical centre on 26 May 2026. On 31 May 2026 he announced the final World Cup squad at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, naming 27 players including four goalkeepers (one a standby, as only three can be registered). Captain Riyad Mahrez leads a group that mixes experience with several younger call-ups (newcomers include goalkeepers Benbot and Ramdane, defender Tougai and forward Ghedjemis), while Ismael Bennacer, Baghdad Bounedjah and Ilan Kebbal were left out. Algeria's final pre-tournament friendly is away to the Netherlands at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 3 June 2026. Petkovic has expressed confidence that Algeria can be competitive in Group J despite the daunting opening fixture against defending champions Argentina.

Latest news

Algeria close preparation away to the Netherlands in Rotterdam

· matches

Algeria play their final pre-tournament friendly away to the Netherlands at De Kuip, Rotterdam, on 3 June 2026, kicking off at 19:45 Algerian time. It is the first ever meeting between the two nations. Both sides have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup; the Dutch are ranked seventh and Algeria 28th in the FIFA rankings.

Petkovic names final World Cup squad: four new faces, Bennacer and Bounedjah out

· squad

Vladimir Petkovic unveiled Algeria's World Cup squad on 31 May at Baraki, naming 27 players (four goalkeepers, one a standby as only three can register). New: keepers Benbot and Ramdane, defender Tougai and forward Ghedjemis. Dropped: Mandrea, Dorval, Nair. Bennacer, top scorer Bounedjah and Kebbal omitted; Mahrez captains.

Zidane and Bensebaini recover to make the final 27

· injuries

Goalkeeper Luca Zidane (Granada), who had been recovering from a facial fracture, and defender Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), sidelined by a foot injury, both recovered in time and were included in Petkovic's final World Cup squad announced on 31 May 2026.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Luca ZidaneGKGranada CF
Oussama BenbotGKUSM Alger
Melvin MastilGKFC Stade Nyonnais
Abdellatif RamdaneGKMC Alger
Aissa MandiDFLOSC Lille
Ramy BensebainiDFBorussia Dortmund
Rayan Ait-NouriDFManchester City
Rafik BelghaliDFHellas Verona
Zineddine BelaidDFJS Kabylie
Jaouen HadjamDFYoung Boys
Samir CherguiDFParis FC
Achraf AbadaDFUSM Alger
Mohamed Amine TougaiDFES Tunis
Ramiz ZerroukiMFFC Twente
Hicham BoudaouiMFOGC Nice
Yacine TitraouiMFRoyal Charleroi SC
Ibrahim MazaMFBayer Leverkusen
Fares ChaibiMFEintracht Frankfurt
Houssem AouarMFAl-Ittihad
Nabil BentalebMFLOSC Lille
Riyad MahrezFWAl-Ahli SFC
Mohamed AmouraFWVfL Wolfsburg
Amine GouiriFWOlympique Marseille
Anis Hadj-MoussaFWFeyenoord
Adil BoulbinaFWAl-Duhail SC
Fares GhedjemisFWFrosinone Calcio
Nadhir BenboualiFWGyori ETO FC

Recent results

  • 2023-11-16 — ALG 3-1 SOM (qualification)
  • 2023-11-19 — MOZ 0-2 ALG (qualification)
  • 2024-01-05 — TOG 0-3 ALG (friendly)
  • 2024-01-09 — BDI 0-4 ALG (friendly)
  • 2024-06-06 — ALG 1-2 GUI (qualification)
  • 2024-06-10 — UGA 1-2 ALG (qualification)
  • 2025-03-21 — BOT 1-3 ALG (qualification)
  • 2025-03-25 — ALG 5-1 MOZ (qualification)
  • 2025-06-05 — ALG 2-0 RWA (friendly)
  • 2025-06-09 — ALG 2-0 RWA (friendly)
  • 2025-06-10 — SWE 4-3 ALG (friendly)
  • 2025-09-04 — ALG 3-1 BOT (qualification)
  • 2025-09-08 — GUI 0-0 ALG (qualification)
  • 2025-10-09 — ALG 3-0 SOM (qualification)
  • 2025-10-14 — ALG 2-1 UGA (qualification)
  • 2025-11-13 — ALG 3-1 ZIM (friendly)
  • 2025-11-18 — KSA 0-2 ALG (friendly)
  • 2026-03-27 — ALG 7-0 GUA (friendly)
  • 2026-03-31 — ALG 0-0 URU (friendly)

Predict Group J →