The Desert Foxes are back on the biggest stage for the first time since 2014, and they arrive with a story. Captain Riyad Mahrez, at 35, returns to the World Cup in what looks like his last, the creative soul of a side coached by Vladimir Petkovic, one of the few managers at the tournament who has led a country at a World Cup before. The squad mixes Mahrez and a strong defence with a new generation in Amine Gouiri, Mohamed Amoura, Fares Chaibi and goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine. Algeria land in Group J with defending champions Argentina, Austria and debutants Jordan. This is the squad, the group, the fixtures, and the case for a return to the knockouts.
Algeria blend an iconic captain with a fast, modern attack and a settled defence. These are the names the campaign will turn on.
The talisman. The former Leicester and Manchester City winger, a Premier League and Champions League winner now at Al Ahli, is Algeria's captain and creative reference point. At 35, this is expected to be his final World Cup, and he remains the man to unlock tight games.
The centre-forward. The Marseille striker gives Algeria a focal point with movement, link-up and finishing. After a strong run in Ligue 1, he carries much of the goal burden alongside Mahrez.
The livewire. The Wolfsburg forward has been one of Algeria's most productive attackers, all pace and directness. He stretches defences and gives Petkovic a different threat off the bench or from the start.
The defensive leader. The Borussia Dortmund defender is strong, aggressive and a threat at set pieces. He anchors a back line that will have to be at its best against Argentina.
The modern wing-back. The Manchester City defender brings Premier League and Champions League quality down the left, overlapping to support the attack and adding real athletic edge.
The playmaker. The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder offers creativity and energy in the final third, part of a younger generation, with Bayer Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza, that gives Algeria a future beyond Mahrez.
Here is the group Vladimir Petkovic named for the 2026 World Cup, set out by position. Riyad Mahrez is captain. Algeria named a provisional group of 27 that will be trimmed to a final 26 before the opener, and club listings can shift across the summer window.
Petkovic mixed a European-based core with players from the domestic and Gulf leagues. The headline call was leaving out AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer, balanced by the experienced recall of Nabil Bentaleb. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who represents Algeria through his heritage, and a young attacking group around Mahrez signal a side in transition. Club listings can change over the summer transfer window.
Petkovic's selection produced a few clear storylines, from a famous surname to a surprise omission.
Zinedine Zidane's son in goal. Having come through Real Madrid's academy, Luca Zidane chose to represent Algeria through his family heritage, one of the feel-good stories of the squad.
The big omission. The AC Milan midfielder, a key man in recent years, missed the cut, the most debated decision of Petkovic's selection.
A veteran returns. The former Tottenham and Schalke midfielder, now at Lille, was recalled to add experience and ball control to the middle of the park.
Algeria were drawn into Group J with defending champions Argentina, Austria and World Cup debutants Jordan. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, are the clear favourites, so the real fight is for second place between Algeria and a well-organised Austria. Algeria play two of their three games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area in between.
Algeria open against Argentina at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 16 June. For the full picture of all 104 games, see the WorldCuply.com match schedule, read our Argentina guide on their Group J opponents, and explore the 12 Pot 1 nations.
Algeria are unlikely to trouble the very top of the tournament, but they have the talent and the format on their side to reach the knockouts on their return:
For a country that reached the round of 16 in 2014, simply qualifying again is a milestone, but this squad will want more. A knockout place would make Mahrez's farewell, and Algeria's return, a success.
Algeria are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Algeria's Group J opponents and the defending champions, Messi's title defence and the full squad.
Read the Argentina guide ›Another of Africa's contenders, Mohamed Salah's Pharaohs, their group and squad for 2026.
Read the Egypt guide ›The top players going to the 2026 World Cup, the names who can decide knockout ties.
View the top 12 ›All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to your team.
Open the schedule ›This guide was hand-written from the following reporting and reference pages, used to confirm Algeria's squad, coach, group and fixtures:
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