Algeria compete in Group Ten of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
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AFCON winners in 1990 and 2019
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FIFA ranking: 29
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Last World Cup appearance: 2014
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Nickname: Les Fennecs (Desert Warriors)
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Top clubs: USM Alger, JS Kabylie, Shabab Blida, Mouloudia Algiers
Qualification: With a 3–0 win over Somalia in the penultimate qualifying round, Algeria secured their fifth World Cup finals appearance. Eight wins from ten matches made for a near-perfect qualifying campaign, before reaching the AFCON quarter-finals last winter.
Coach: Swiss-Bosnian Vladimir Petković, a former attacking midfielder, took charge of the Algerian national team in 2024, appointed just weeks after Algeria's group-stage exit at AFCON 2023 led to Djamel Belmadi's departure. Under the former Switzerland manager, Algeria have won 20 of their 27 matches, heading into the 2026 World Cup with confidence.
Star player: While many will be watching the performances of Luca Zidane — son of French footballing legend Zinedine — the undisputed star and captain of the Desert Warriors remains Riyad Mahrez. Despite turning 35, the former Manchester City winger made 27 appearances for Saudi champions Al-Ahli this season and scored three goals at the AFCON in Morocco. Alongside Nabil Bentaleb and Aïssa Mandi, Mahrez will be one of three players in the Algerian squad competing in their second World Cup after 2014.
Ambitions: In a challenging group that notably includes world champions Argentina and Austria, Algeria will aim to reach the round of 16 — either as group runners-up or as one of the best third-placed teams. The goal beyond that would be to match the achievement of 2014, when they reached the round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Germany after extra time.