In 1982, Algeria shocked defending European champions West Germany and nearly rewrote World Cup history — only to be eliminated by a scandalous gentlemen’s agreement between West Germany and Austria that FIFA later banned. Forty-four years on, the Desert Foxes are back, and they have a point to prove.
After a 12-year absence, Algeria’s Desert Foxes are back on football’s biggest stage.
The North African side has qualified for five FIFA World Cups – 1982, 1986, 2010, 2014 and 2026 – and has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1990 and 2019. Their best World Cup run came in 2014, when they reached the Round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Germany.
They are drawn in Group J alongside defending champions Argentina, Austria and Jordan.
Quick facts
- Captain: Riyad Mahrez
- Manager: Vladimir Petković
- World Cup appearances (including 2026): 5
- Best World Cup result: Round of 16 (2014)
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Algeria’s final squad
Goalkeepers: Luca Zidane (Granada), Oussama Benbot (Alger), Melvin Mastil (Stade Nyonnais)
Defenders: Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City), Jaouen Hadjam (BSC Young Boys), Aïssa Mandi (Lille), Ramy Bensebaïni (Borussia Dortmund), Zinedine Belaïd (Kabylie), Mohamed Amine Tougaï (Espérance de Tunis), Achraf Abada (USM Alger)
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (OGC Nice), Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yacine Titraoui (Royal Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (Twente)
Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (VfL Wolfsburg), Nadhir Benbouali (ETO), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Farès Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Olympique Marseilla), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli)