ALGIERS — Algeria head coach Vladimir Petković has officially announced his 26-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Les Fennecs are set to compete in Group J, where they will face heavyweights Argentina, along with Austria and Jordan.
Squad Highlights: Experience Meets Talent
The roster blends seasoned leadership with returning attacking prowess. Captain Riyad Mahrez and record appearance-maker Aissa Mandi headline the squad, joined by midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, who makes his return to the international stage following an injury-plagued period.
A notable inclusion is goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Despite suffering a broken chin and jaw while playing for Granada this past April, the 28-year-old has been deemed fit enough to travel, continuing his international journey with Algeria. The attacking lineup is further bolstered by the return of Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri, both of whom missed the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year due to injury.
Algeria’s Provisional Squad
• Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot, Melvin Mastil, Luca Zidane
• Defenders: Achref Abada, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Zineddine Belaid, Rafik Belghali, Ramy Bensebaïni, Samir Chergui, Jaouen Hadjam, Aissa Mandi, Mohamed Tougai
• Midfielders: Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, Hicham Boudaoui, Fares Chaibi, Ibrahim Maza, Yacine Titraoui, Ramiz Zerrouki
• Forwards: Mohamed Amoura, Nadhir Benbouali, Adil Boulbina, Fares Ghedjemis, Amine Gouiri, Riyad Mahrez, Anis Hadj Moussa
The Road Ahead
Algeria is making its return to the world stage for the first time since their memorable run at Brazil 2014. To fine-tune their preparations, the team will play two final warm-up matches:
• 3 June: vs. Netherlands
• 10 June: vs. Bolivia
The tournament campaign kicks off in Kansas City on June 16, where Algeria faces their toughest group-stage test against Argentina.
Note: All squads remain provisional until the final list of 26 players is officially submitted to and confirmed by FIFA on June 2, 2026.
