Algeria at the FIFA World Cup

Algeria will play at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after qualifying for a third time their history. Algeria are priced at 401.00 outsiders to win the tournament, with the Desert Foxes beneficiaries of the expanded format for the USA, Mexico and Canada-hosted event.

Algeria has all but book their spot of in the World Cup 2026 tournament, although the African qualification stage, and fans can begin getting excited about their retur to the big stage after a 16 year absence.

Algeria’s expected squad

Algeria’s squad for the 2026 World Cup is expected to blend experienced internationals with emerging talent from both European leagues and domestic competitions. In goal, the team may bank on the form of Luca Zidane, who switched his international allegiance from France and has featured in recent qualifiers, backed up by established keepers such as Alexis Guendouz and other contenders earning call-ups during the campaign. 

Across the defence, Algeria’s back line could feature a mix of veterans and younger defenders. Rayan Aït-Nouri and Ramy Bensebaini provide full-back and leadership experience, while the central defence could be marshalled by players such as Mohamed Amine Tougai, Zineddine Belaïd and Samir Chergui, all of whom have been involved regularly in qualifying and build-up matches. 

In midfield, Algeria’s engine room is likely to revolve around seasoned campaigners alongside dynamic young performers. Ismaël Bennacer’s creativity and control will be central if he is fit, while the side may also rely on the industrious Himad Abdelli and the emerging Ramiz Zerrouki to link play and maintain balance. 

Up front, the attack could be spearheaded by Wolfsburg striker Mohamed Amoura, whose goal-scoring form has been a key feature of recent qualifying success. Alongside him, creative threats such as Riyad Mahrez — if selected — and other forward options will aim to trouble World Cup defences.

Algeria’s qualification path to World Cup 2026

Algeria’s journey towards the FIFA World Cup in 2026 began in the African qualification group stage, where they were drawn alongside Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana, Guinea and Somalia. With CAF allocated more places than ever before, the margin for error has increased slightly, but qualification remains a demanding process.

The Desert Foxes made an immediate statement by asserting themselves early in the group, combining solid defensive performances with decisive attacking displays. Home fixtures proved particularly important, with Algeria capitalising on familiar conditions and strong support to build momentum. Away from home, they showed the discipline and organisation that has historically underpinned their successful qualification campaigns.

Key victories against direct group rivals allowed Algeria to move clear at the top of the standings, while comprehensive wins over lower-ranked opponents strengthened both their goal difference and confidence. The campaign also highlighted Algeria’s depth, with a blend of Europe-based players and domestic talent contributing across multiple matches.

While qualification had not yet been mathematically secured, Algeria’s position has them firmly in control of their destiny. As in previous successful campaigns, consistency rather than drama has defined their push toward another appearance on football’s biggest stage.

2010 World Cup – South Africa

South Africa 2010 marked Algeria’s long-awaited return to the World Cup finals after a 24-year absence. Qualification was secured in dramatic circumstances via a one-off playoff against Egypt in Sudan, a match that reignited one of African football’s fiercest rivalries and ended with Algeria emerging 1-0 winners after extra time.

The victory was all the more symbolic given Algeria’s painful defeat to Egypt in a violent playoff two decades earlier on the road to Italia ’90. This time, the Desert Foxes finally had their revenge and booked their place at a third World Cup.

Drawn into Group C alongside England, the United States and Slovenia, Algeria faced a tough assignment. Once again, the team was led by Rabah Saadane, the same man who had been in charge during their previous World Cup appearance in Mexico in 1986, making his return to the tournament after nearly a quarter of a century.

For Algeria, South Africa 2010 represented more than just another World Cup appearance. It marked the end of “the walk through the desert” and the revival of a national side whose World Cup history, though brief, had already left a lasting mark on the tournament.

1986 World Cup in Mexico

Algeria were straight back in for their second World Cup when they qualified for Mexico ‘86. They could have no conspiracy complaints this time, although they were drawn in a tough Group D alongside Brazil, Spain and Northern Ireland.

The opening game against Northern Ireland started badly when Norman Whiteside put Northern Ireland ahead with a 6th minute free kick. However, Algeria fought back and equalized in the 59th minute when Djamel Zidane fired home with his left foot after a free kick routine.

Unfortunately, Algeria narrowly lost 1-0 to Brazil in their second group game at Mexico ‘86 and were then hammered 3-0 by Spain in the game, leaving them bottom of Group D and on the way home from Mexico.

Algeria narrowly missed out on World Cup Italia ‘90, losing a famously violent play-off game 1-0 to Egypt over two legs. That failure to make it to Italia ‘90 was followed by four more failures to qualify in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. This period is apparently known as “The walk though the desert”. But the famous playoff win over Egypt this year (twenty years after the defeat in 1989) sees Algeria back in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986.

Incredibly, Algeria’s coach at Mexico ‘86 was none other than Rabah Saadane, the same Rabah Saadane who – now in his fifth spell in charge of the Desert Foxes – will lead Algeria out at World Cup 2010.

1982 World Cup in Spain

For their World Cup debut as Espana ‘82, Algeria we drawn into Group 2 with West Germany, Austria and Chile. In the opening game they faced Euro ‘80 champions West Germany. Nice easy introduction then.

Algeria shocked the world, not to mention West Germany, by winning that game 2-1. Rabah Madjer gave the Desert Foxes a 54th minute lead, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge equalized at close range for W. Germany in the 67th, but Lakhdar Belloumi did exactly the same at the other end just one minute later. Here’s the YouTube vid of Algeria’s famous win over West Germany in Gijon, complete with excellent windscreen wipe transitions:

Algeria lost their next game to Austria 2-0, but won their final group game vs Chile 3-2 with two goals from Salah Assad and one from Tedj Bensaoula.

Now comes the controversy. The final group game was West Germany vs Austria. Due to the mathematical situation in Group 2, both sides were very much aware that a 1-0 win for West Germany would see both Austria and West Germany qualify for the second round at Algeria’s expense. Which is exactly what happened.

After Germany took a 1-0 lead, both teams apparently sat back and waited for full time. Not sure if any German or Austrian fans would argue otherwise, but the latter half of this match was hard to watch.

Algeria complained, FIFA (predictably) ignored and said the result stood. But the Schande von Gijón (the shame of Gijon) is the reason why the final round of all group games are now played simultaneously rather than separately.