Algeria's national football team is preparing for its fifth World Cup participation, with coach Vladimir Petkovic having unveiled his selection for the 2026 tournament, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19. Algeria is set to compete in Group J alongside holders Argentina, Austria, and Jordan. Three players, Riyad Mahrez, Aissa Mandi, and Nabil Bentaleb, are slated to make their second World Cup appearances. Nabil Bentaleb has been recalled to the squad, with Petkovic stating, "We know Bentaleb well; he has all the qualities as a person for the group too. He has shown he's in form these last few months."
Record Holders and Newcomers
Striker Rafik Saifi holds the record as the oldest Algerian player to represent the national team in the World Cup, participating in the 2010 South Africa edition at 35 years and 124 days old. Saifi was playing for FC Istres during that tournament. Conversely, midfielder Nabil Bentaleb is the youngest Algerian player to have featured in the World Cup, having played in the 2014 Brazil edition at 19 years and 200 days old while representing Tottenham Hotspur. Algeria advanced past the first round in the 2014 World Cup. Another young participant, playmaker Ryad Boudebouz, was 20 years and 118 days old when he played in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Looking ahead, attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maazaz, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, is set to become one of the squad's youngest members at the next World Cup, at 20 years and 199 days old.
Key Players and Squad Dynamics
Riyad Mahrez, who plays for Al-Ahli Saudi FC, is set to be the second oldest player in the upcoming edition at 35 years and 110 days old. Defender Aïssa Mandi, of LOSC Lille, will be the third oldest, participating in the next World Cup at 34 years and 232 days old. Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, aged 31, has been recalled to the squad despite not playing for the national team since last October. Key attackers Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri are also returning, having missed the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco earlier this year due to injury.
Oussama Benbot, who plays for USM Alger, is included in the World Cup squad after announcing his retirement from the national team but returning to address a potential goalkeeping crisis. Reports indicated Benbot's form was significant in his club USM Alger winning the African Confederation Cup final this month. The squad's defensive lineup includes Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Rayan Ait Nouri (Manchester City), Zinedine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa Mandi (Lille), and Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance). Midfielders selected are Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine Titraoui (Charleroi), and Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente).
Pre-Tournament Preparations
Algeria's national team is scheduled to play a warm-up friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Wednesday, with another pre-tournament match planned against Bolivia in Kansas City on June 10. The squad includes forwards Mohamed Amine Amoura of VfL Wolfsburg, Nadir Benbouali from Győri ETO, Adil Boulbina of Al-Duhail, Fares Ghedjemis from Frosinone, Amine Gouiri of Olympique de Marseille, Riyad Mahrez from Al-Ahli, and Anis Hadj Moussa of Feyenoord Rotterdam. Abdellatif Ramdane of Mouloudia Alger has been named as the standby goalkeeper for the tournament. Rafik Saifi, a former player who now coaches the Olympic national team, is also involved in the broader football setup.
