Algeria World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
Algeria are back at the World Cup after a 12 year wait, and they arrive with a point to prove. Vladimir Petkovic named his final Algeria World Cup 2026 squad of 26 players on May 31, 2026, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers. The Desert Foxes topped their African group to book the trip.
Petkovic built the side around captain Riyad Mahrez, still the talisman at 35. Algeria landed in a brutal Group J with reigning champions Argentina, plus Austria and Jordan. They haven’t reached the knockout rounds since 2014, and this generation badly wants to change that.
Algeria Quick Facts:
- Country: Algeria
- Confederation: CAF
- Nickname: The Desert Foxes (Les Verts)
- Head Coach: Vladimir Petkovic
- Captain: Riyad Mahrez
- Group: Group J
- Group Opponents: Argentina, Austria, Jordan
- First Match: June 16 vs Argentina, Kansas City Stadium, 9:00 PM ET
- Last Group Match: June 27 vs Austria, Kansas City Stadium, 10:00 PM ET
- FIFA Ranking: 28th as of June 11, 2026
- World Cup Appearance: Fifth
- Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Algeria Squad List for World Cup 2026
Petkovic leaned on Europe based talent, with a strong Bundesliga and Ligue 1 core and three players still at home. The group breaks down into three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards, with Riyad Mahrez wearing the armband. Player ages are correct as of June 11, 2026.
Goalkeepers
- Oussama Benbot, 31, USM Alger (Algeria)
- Melvin Mastil, 26, Stade Nyonnais (Switzerland)
- Luca Zidane, 28, Granada (Spain)
Defenders
- Aissa Mandi, 34, Lille (France)
- Achref Abada, 26, USM Alger (Algeria)
- Mohamed Amine Tougai, 26, Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Zineddine Belaid, 27, JS Kabylie (Algeria)
- Jaouen Hadjam, 23, Young Boys (Switzerland)
- Rayan Ait-Nouri, 25, Manchester City (England)
- Rafik Belghali, 24, Hellas Verona (Italy)
- Ramy Bensebaini, 31, Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Samir Chergui, 27, Paris FC (France)
Midfielders
- Ramiz Zerrouki, 27, Twente (Netherlands)
- Houssem Aouar, 27, Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
- Fares Chaibi, 23, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
- Hicham Boudaoui, 26, Nice (France)
- Nabil Bentaleb, 31, Lille (France)
- Ibrahim Maza, 20, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
- Yacine Titraoui, 22, Charleroi (Belgium)
Forwards
- Riyad Mahrez (C), 35, Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
- Amine Gouiri, 26, Marseille (France)
- Anis Hadj Moussa, 24, Feyenoord (Netherlands)
- Nadhir Benbouali, 26, Gyor (Hungary)
- Mohamed Amoura, 26, VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
- Adil Boulbina, 23, Al-Duhail (Qatar)
- Fares Ghedjemis, 23, Frosinone (Italy)
The age gap tells the story. Mahrez is 35 and Aissa Mandi 34, while Ibrahim Maza sits at the other end at just 20. Veterans like Bensebaini and Nabil Bentaleb at 31 hold the spine together. Behind them a young wave of Maza, Yacine Titraoui, and Jaouen Hadjam is already pushing through.
The diaspora story runs all the way through this group. Many of these players were born in France or Belgium and came up in European academies. Ligue 1 supplies five names and the Bundesliga four more. Only Benbot, Abada, and Belaid still play their club football inside Algeria.
Fixtures
Algeria play all three group stage matches inside the United States. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) for the host venues and Central European Time (CET) for fans watching at home in Algeria.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Time (CET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2026 | Argentina vs Algeria | Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City | 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (Jun 17) |
| June 22, 2026 | Jordan vs Algeria | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara | 11:00 PM | 4:00 AM (Jun 23) |
| June 27, 2026 | Algeria vs Austria | Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City | 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM (Jun 28) |
The top two teams from Group J advance to the Round of 32, and the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also go through. That cushion matters in a group with the world champions. Algeria can survive without finishing in the top two, though Petkovic will want it done sooner.
The opener against Argentina is the toughest possible start in Kansas City. Jordan in Santa Clara looks the most winnable match on paper. The closing game with Austria could decide second place, and it may arrive with everything still on the line for both sides.
Manager: Vladimir Petkovic
Vladimir Petkovic is a 62 year old coach who holds both Swiss and Bosnian passports. He was born in Sarajevo and made his name in Swiss and Italian football. The Algerian federation appointed him in February 2024, and he has since signed an extension that runs through 2028.
His coaching record carries real weight. Petkovic led Switzerland between 2014 and 2021, taking them to the 2018 World Cup and two European Championships. He also won the Coppa Italia with Lazio in 2013. He knows tournament football and how to organise a side under pressure.
He took the Algeria job after the team parted with Djamel Belmadi. Petkovic steadied the ship and guided the Desert Foxes through a strong qualifying campaign. A 1-0 friendly win over the Netherlands in early June showed the group can trouble serious opponents.
Petkovic favours a balanced 4-3-3 that can drop into a 4-2-3-1 when needed. He asks for compact defending and quick transitions through Mahrez and the wide men. The system suits a squad that defends in numbers and then breaks at pace through its attackers.
Star Player: Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez was born on February 21, 1991, and is 35 years old. He plays as a winger for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League. Age has trimmed a little pace from his game, but his left foot, vision, and set piece delivery remain elite. He is the heartbeat of this side.
Mahrez carries 113 caps and 38 goals for Algeria, counted up to the squad announcement. He made his international debut in 2014 and played at that summer’s World Cup against Belgium. He takes the penalties, free kicks, and corners, so much of Algeria’s attacking threat runs through him.
His club career is decorated. Mahrez won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016 and was named Player of the Season, then added four more league titles and the Champions League at Manchester City. He later won the AFC Champions League Elite with Al-Ahli, a rare collection of major honours.
His finest Algeria moment came at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Mahrez scored a stoppage time free kick to beat Nigeria in the semifinal, then lifted the trophy days later. That tournament confirmed his status as the country’s most important player of his generation.
This is almost certainly his last World Cup. Mahrez missed out on a deep run in 2014 and never got another chance until now. He’ll want to leave a mark on the biggest stage. Expect him to start wide on the right and drift inside to find his shot.
Key Players to Watch
Ibrahim Maza
Ibrahim Maza is 20 and the youngest player in the Algeria squad. The Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder is rated among the brightest young talents in Algerian football. He glides through midfield and picks clever passes, and his rise earned him a Bundesliga move to one of Germany’s top clubs.
Maza chose Algeria over Germany at youth level, and that decision now looks shrewd. He gives Petkovic a creative option who can unlock a packed defence. For a player this young, his calm on the ball stands out. He represents the next chapter for the Desert Foxes.
Aissa Mandi
Aissa Mandi is 34 and the most experienced head in the group. The Lille defender is Algeria’s most-capped player with 116 appearances. He reads the game early and organises those around him, which matters in a back line that mixes youth with veterans across the three group matches.
Mandi has seen everything in a long career across Spain and France. His leadership will be vital against Argentina’s forwards and Austria’s direct play. He is not the quickest anymore, so smart positioning is his main weapon. Algeria lean on his calm in the toughest moments.
Mohamed Amoura
Mohamed Amoura, 26, is a sharp and mobile striker at VfL Wolfsburg. He finished as Algeria’s top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals in eight matches. His movement in behind defences gives the team a different threat to Mahrez, stretching the pitch and creating space for others.
Amoura turned his form in the Bundesliga into a regular starting role for his country. He presses hard from the front and runs the channels all game. If Algeria are to spring a surprise in Group J, his goals will likely be the reason behind it.
Qualification Path and World Cup History
Algeria won CAF Group G to reach the finals. They played 10 matches, won eight, drew one, and lost one for 25 points, finishing clear of Uganda. Their group also featured Guinea, Mozambique, Botswana, and Somalia. The campaign was built on a steady defence and a reliable goal threat up top.
No playoff was needed once they topped the group. Mohamed Amoura led the scoring charts with 10 goals, and the team’s only stumble was a single defeat. That return to the World Cup sparked huge celebrations back home after years away.
This is Algeria’s fifth World Cup, after 1982, 1986, 2010, and 2014. Their all-time finals record across 13 matches reads three wins, three draws, and seven losses. The 1982 side famously beat West Germany before a controversial result between West Germany and Austria ended their run.
Their best finish came in 2014. Algeria reached the Round of 16 in Brazil and pushed eventual champions Germany to extra time before losing 2-1. That team won hearts with brave, attacking football. This generation arrives in North America hoping to finally clear that last 16 hurdle.
What to Expect and Our Algeria World Cup 2026 Prediction
Algeria set up in a flexible 4-3-3 that can shift to a 4-2-3-1. Their strengths are clear: Mahrez’s creativity, Amoura’s pace, and an experienced spine through Mandi and Bensebaini. The June win over the Netherlands proved this team can frustrate strong opponents and punish them on the break.
The weakness is depth in the final third behind the front men. Their back line also faces a huge test against Argentina, the group favourites and Lionel Messi’s side. Algeria will need their defenders at their sharpest to keep the opener from getting away from them early.
The Argentina opener is a free hit against the world champions. Jordan in Santa Clara is the match Algeria really must win. Austria in the finale looks like a straight shootout for second place, and that game could define the whole campaign for Petkovic’s side.
Best case, Algeria beat Jordan, edge Austria, and sneak through behind Argentina. Worst case, the goals dry up and they go home early once again. The likely outcome is a tight fight for second, and this squad has just enough quality to reach the Round of 32.
Algeria World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
Who did Algeria leave out of the 2026 squad?
AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer is the biggest name left out. Striker Baghdad Bounedjah and midfielder Himad Abdelli also missed the cut. Petkovic chose a younger, more mobile balance in those areas.
How many foreign-born players are in the Algeria squad?
A large share of the squad was born outside Algeria. Many came up in France or Belgium before choosing the Desert Foxes, including Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, Amine Gouiri, and Samir Chergui. This diaspora pipeline has shaped Algerian teams for decades.
Which league is most represented in the squad?
France’s Ligue 1 is the most represented league with five players. Aissa Mandi and Nabil Bentaleb are at Lille, Hicham Boudaoui at Nice, Amine Gouiri at Marseille, and Samir Chergui at Paris FC. The Bundesliga is next with four players.
When did Algeria last play at a World Cup?
Algeria last appeared at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They reached the Round of 16 and lost 2-1 to Germany in extra time. The 2026 tournament ends a 12 year absence from the finals.
Who is the most-capped player in the Algeria squad?
Defender Aissa Mandi is the most-capped player with 116 appearances for Algeria. He has been a fixture in the back line for over a decade. Captain Riyad Mahrez sits close behind on 113 caps.
What kit does Algeria wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Algeria wear Adidas kits at the 2026 World Cup. The home shirt uses a cream base with brown detailing inspired by the country’s desert dunes, finished with green on the collar and shoulders. The kits are sold through the FIFA Official Store and Adidas.
The Algeria World Cup 2026 squad mixes seasoned winners with a hungry young core, all led by one last Riyad Mahrez charge. Petkovic’s Desert Foxes have the quality to escape a fierce Group J and end their long wait for a knockout return. After 12 years away, this feels like a team ready to make up for lost time.
