Algeria World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Algeria World Cup Squad 2026 has reached the knockout stage. Vladimir Petković’s 26 man roster, captained by Riyad Mahrez, finished third in Group J and advanced as one of the best third placed teams. Algeria now meet Switzerland in the Round of 32 on July 2 in Vancouver. It is the Desert Foxes’ first World Cup since 2014 and their fifth appearance overall.
Petković named the squad on May 31 and built it on European pedigree from Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City), Ramy Bensebaïni (Borussia Dortmund) and Amine Gouiri (Marseille), with 20 year old Ibrahim Maza of Bayer Leverkusen as the youngest player.
The biggest talking point was the omission of Ismaël Bennacer, with Nabil Bentaleb preferred in midfield. Algeria arrived ranked 28th in the world in the April 1, 2026 FIFA update.
Here is the full Algeria squad list, the group stage results, the road ahead, and the key players driving the run.
Algeria World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26 Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Luca Zidane | Granada | 28 |
| GK | Oussama Benbot | USM Alger | 31 |
| GK | Melvin Mastil | Stade Nyonnais | 25 |
| DF | Aïssa Mandi | Lille | 34 |
| DF | Ramy Bensebaïni | Borussia Dortmund | 31 |
| DF | Rayan Aït-Nouri | Manchester City | 25 |
| DF | Rafik Belghali | Hellas Verona | 23 |
| DF | Samir Chergui | Red Star FC | 27 |
| DF | Jaouen Hadjam | Young Boys | 23 |
| DF | Zineddine Belaïd | JS Kabylie | 27 |
| DF | Achref Abada | USM Alger | 26 |
| DF | Mohamed Amine Tougaï | Espérance de Tunis | 26 |
| MF | Nabil Bentaleb | Lille | 31 |
| MF | Hicham Boudaoui | Nice | 26 |
| MF | Houssem Aouar | Al-Ittihad | 27 |
| MF | Farès Chaïbi | Eintracht Frankfurt | 25 |
| MF | Ibrahim Maza | Bayer Leverkusen | 20 |
| MF | Yacine Titraoui | Charleroi | 22 |
| MF | Ramiz Zerrouki | FC Twente (on loan from Feyenoord) | 27 |
| FW | Riyad Mahrez (C) | Al-Ahli | 35 |
| FW | Mohamed Amoura | VfL Wolfsburg | 25 |
| FW | Amine Gouiri | Marseille | 26 |
| FW | Anis Hadj Moussa | Feyenoord | 24 |
| FW | Adil Boulbina | Al-Duhail | 23 |
| FW | Nadhir Benbouali | Győr | 26 |
| FW | Farès Ghedjemis | Frosinone | 23 |
For all 48 team rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads hub.
Quick Squad Stats
A snapshot of the key numbers in Petković’s final 26.
- Average age: 26.4 years
- Youngest player: Ibrahim Maza (20)
- Oldest player and captain: Riyad Mahrez (35)
- Most capped player: Aïssa Mandi (116 caps)
- Premier League players: 1 (Rayan Aït-Nouri, Manchester City)
- Bundesliga players: 3 (Maza, Chaïbi, Amoura)
- Top qualifying scorer: Mohamed Amoura (10 goals in CAF Group G)
- Notable omission: Ismaël Bennacer (AC Milan)
Algeria World Cup 2026 Key Players to Watch
Riyad Mahrez (C) | Al-Ahli
Mahrez is Algeria’s captain and biggest name at 35. This is almost certainly his final World Cup, and he is playing like it. His stoppage time brace against Austria rescued a 3-3 draw and sent Algeria through to the knockout rounds. He won the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023 before moving to Al-Ahli, where he added the AFC Champions League title in 2024-25. When Mahrez runs at defenders, Algeria attack.
Mohamed Amoura | VfL Wolfsburg
Amoura topped Algeria’s qualifying scorers with 10 goals in CAF Group G. The Wolfsburg striker pairs raw pace with clinical finishing and carries Algeria’s clearest goal threat. He led the line through the group stage and remains central to Petković’s plans in the knockout rounds.
Rayan Aït-Nouri | Manchester City
Aït-Nouri is the squad’s most dynamic attacking outlet at 25. The Manchester City left back has become one of the most effective attacking full backs in the Premier League, combining pace with a sharp left foot. He gets forward like a winger, and Algeria’s most dangerous build up play runs through his channel on the left.
Aïssa Mandi | Lille
Mandi holds the record for Algeria’s most international appearances with 116 caps. At 34, the Lille centre back is still the best organiser in this defence. He reads the game early, wins his headers, and marshals a back line that leans on his calm. Algeria’s defensive stability depends on him staying fit.
Ibrahim Maza | Bayer Leverkusen
Maza is 20 and the squad’s most exciting long term asset. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder carries the ball through tight spaces, plays under pressure without losing it, and picks passes more experienced players miss. Petković manages his minutes carefully, but Maza is the kind of player who can change a knockout tie.
Algeria World Cup 2026 Schedule and Results
Algeria played all three group games in the United States and took four points from a tough Group J. Here are the confirmed results and the Round of 32 fixture.
| Date | Round | Opponent | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2026 | Group J | Argentina | Lost 0-3 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Jun 22, 2026 | Group J | Jordan | Won 2-1 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Jun 27, 2026 | Group J | Austria | Drew 3-3 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Round of 32 | Switzerland | 11:00 PM ET | BC Place, Vancouver |
The Round of 32 tie with Switzerland is at BC Place in Vancouver on July 2, with Argentine referee Yael Falcón Pérez in charge. Switzerland won Group B on seven points after a 1-1 draw with Qatar, a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 2-1 win over Canada.
The winner advances to the Round of 16. Check the full 2026 World Cup schedule for the remaining knockout dates and kick off times.
How Algeria Reached the Round of 32
Algeria opened against the defending champions and lost 3-0 to Argentina, a chastening start against a side inspired by a Lionel Messi hat trick. Petković’s team responded five days later with a 2-1 win over debutants Jordan to reopen their campaign.
Everything came down to a decisive final group game against Austria. With both teams needing a result, the match swung wildly in stoppage time. Mahrez completed a brace to put Algeria ahead, before Sasa Kalajdzic headed a stoppage time equaliser for Austria.
The 3-3 draw sent both nations through and eliminated Iran on the third place standings. Algeria finished third in Group J on four points, level with Austria, who took second on goal difference. Their tally was enough to progress as one of the eight best third placed teams.
Group J Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Jordan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
How Algeria Qualified for World Cup 2026
Algeria came through CAF Group G qualifying alongside Guinea, Uganda, Mozambique, Botswana and Somalia. From ten matches they recorded eight wins, one draw and one defeat, finishing seven points clear of runners up Uganda. Their only loss came away to Guinea, a lone blemish on a commanding campaign.
Mohamed Amoura drove the run, finishing as Algeria’s top scorer with 10 goals. Algeria clinched their World Cup place on October 9, 2025 with a 3-0 win over Somalia, in which Mahrez scored and set up two Amoura goals. That result confirmed the Desert Foxes’ return to the global stage after a 12 year absence.
Head Coach: Vladimir Petković
Vladimir Petković is a 62 year old Bosnian Swiss coach who took the Algeria job on February 29, 2024, replacing Djamel Belmadi after a second consecutive AFCON group stage exit. His brief was clear: qualify for the World Cup and rebuild belief. He delivered a near perfect qualifying campaign and has now guided Algeria back into the knockout rounds.
Petković built his reputation with Switzerland from 2014 to 2021, guiding them to the knockout stages at Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup and the quarter finals of Euro 2020, where the Swiss knocked out world champions France on penalties.
His preferred system with Algeria is a 4-2-3-1 built around Mahrez’s creativity behind the striker and Amoura’s movement. Facing his former nation Switzerland in the Round of 32 adds a compelling subplot to Algeria’s knockout tie.
FAQ About Algeria World Cup Squad 2026
How did Algeria do in the World Cup 2026 group stage?
Algeria lost 3-0 to Argentina, beat Jordan 2-1, then drew 3-3 with Austria in a dramatic finale. They finished third in Group J on four points and advanced to the Round of 32 as one of the best third placed teams.
Who do Algeria play in the Round of 32?
Algeria face Switzerland in the Round of 32 on July 2, 2026 at BC Place in Vancouver, with kick off at 11:00 PM ET. Switzerland qualified as Group B winners on seven points. The winner advances to the Round of 16.
What channel shows Algeria’s 2026 World Cup matches in the United States?
Algeria’s matches air on Fox Sports in English in the United States, with Spanish language coverage on Telemundo. Peacock carries streaming rights. Fox and Telemundo hold the full US broadcast rights for the 2026 tournament.
Who is Algeria’s captain and coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Riyad Mahrez captains Algeria, and Vladimir Petković is the head coach. Petković sets up in a 4-2-3-1, with Mahrez operating behind striker Mohamed Amoura and Rayan Aït-Nouri pushing forward from left back.
What is Algeria’s nickname?
Algeria are known as the Desert Foxes in English and Les Verts (The Greens) in French, a nod to the country’s traditional green home kit. The name has been used since Algeria’s earliest international appearances in the 1960s.
Algeria World Cup Squad 2026: Knockout Hopes
The Algeria World Cup Squad 2026 has already delivered on its promise by reaching the knockout stage. Mahrez and Mandi provide a world class leadership core, Amoura carries the goal threat, and Aït-Nouri and Maza give Petković pace and quality that can shift a tight game. Their resilience against Austria showed a team that refuses to fold.
A win over Switzerland would carry Algeria into the Round of 16 and match their best ever World Cup result from 2014. At 35, Mahrez is playing for history, and that hunger matters in knockout football.
The Desert Foxes arrived with no pressure and everything to gain, which makes them one of the more dangerous outsiders left in the draw.
