Nation dossier · Group J · Out in the Round of 32

Algeria

People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

Group JCAFEliminated · Round of 32

Latest Switzerland 2–0 Algeria · Round of 32

Knocked out by Switzerland · Match 85

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Title probability

0.0%

as of 2026-07-20

Overview

Algeria arrive at the 2026 World Cup desperate to bury the memory of consecutive group-stage exits at the 2014 high-water mark and an agonising failure to reach Qatar 2022. The Desert Foxes boast a golden generation of European-based talent led by the evergreen Riyad Mahrez, blending experience with rising stars.

Under a reshaped setup, Algeria have rediscovered swagger in CAF qualifying, but questions linger over defensive solidity and converting dominance into results against elite opposition. Ambition is high — anything less than the knockout rounds would feel like underachievement for this talented pool.

Capital

Algiers

Population

47,400,000

Confederation

CAF

FIFA code

ALG

World

Region

From Wikipedia

Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Spanning over 2,381,741 square kilometres (919,595 sq mi), it is the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest in the world. It is bordered to the northeast by Tunisia; to the east by Libya; to the…

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3

1
Melvin Mastil
Stade Nyonnais
2caps
16
Oussama Benbout
USM Alger
5caps
23
Luca Zidane
Granada · Son of Zinédine Zidane
7caps

Defenders9

2
Aïssa Mandi
Lille · Most-capped player in squad
119caps
3
Achref Abada
USM Alger
9caps
4
Amine Tougai
Espérance de Tunis
30caps
5
Zinédine Belaïd
JS Kabylie
18caps
13
Jaouen Hadjam
Young Boys · Energetic full-back option
18caps
15
Rayan Aït Nouri
Manchester City · Premier League title winner
30caps
17
Rafik Belghali
Hellas Verona
13caps
21
Ramy Bensebaini
Borussia Dortmund · Experienced Bundesliga defender
82caps
26
Samir Chergui
Paris FC
5caps

Midfielders8

6
Ramiz Zerrouki
Twente · Tireless ball-winning midfielder
53caps
8
Houssem Aouar
Al-Ittihad · Creative deep-lying playmaker
22caps
10
Fares Chaïbi
Eintracht Frankfurt · Direct attacking midfielder
31caps
14
Hicham Boudaoui
Nice
34caps
19
Nabil Bentaleb
Lille · Former Tottenham midfielder
60caps
20
Adil Boulbina
Al-Duhail
12caps
22
Ibrahim Maza
Bayer Leverkusen · Youngest player in squad
17caps
24
Yacine Titraoui
Charleroi
5caps

Forwards6

7
Riyad Mahrez
Al-Ahli · Captain, ex-Man City winger
116caps
9
Amine Gouiri
Marseille
23caps
11
Anis Moussa
Feyenoord
15caps
12
Nadhir Benbouali
Győri ETO
4caps
18
Mohammed Amoura
VfL Wolfsburg · Qualifying top scorer
47caps
25
Farés Ghedjemis
Frosinone
1caps

Model

as of 2026-07-20

Champion0.0%

Reach final0.0%

Semi-final0.0%

Quarter-final0.0%

Round of 160.0%

Advance from group100.0%

Exp. points

4.00

Proj. finish

24.5

Seed Elo

1700

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

Results

BC Place, Vancouver

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Levi's Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

History

1982
Group stage
1986
Group stage
2010
Group stage
2014
Round of 16

Culture

Football culture

Football is Algeria's undisputed national obsession, with packed cafés and roaring crowds whenever the national team plays. The diaspora connection means many top stars are dual-nationals raised in French academies. Local clubs like MC Alger and CR Belouizdad command fierce, colourful followings.

Did you know

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and the Arab world by area.
The 1982 win over West Germany ranks among the World Cup's greatest shocks.
Most squad members were born or developed in France.
Riyad Mahrez won the Premier League title twice with Leicester and Manchester City.
The Sahara covers more than four-fifths of Algerian territory.