Algeria World Cup 2026: Captain Mahrez and Co. can spring a surprise

After a 12-year absence, Algeria are back on the biggest stage in football, and they've been drawn in Group J alongside defending champions Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Their best run at a World Cup came in 2014, when they reached the round of 16 before losing to Germany. Can they shock the world in North America? Find the latest Algeria World Cup 2026 Odds below.

Goalkeepers: Oussama ​Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Masstil (Stade Nyonnaise), Luca Zidane (Granada)

Defenders: 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), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine ‌Titraoui (Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente)

Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (Wolfsburg), Nadir Benbouali (Gyori ETO), ‌Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Fares Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord)

This summer marks Algeria’s first World Cup appearance since 2014, after missing the previous iterations in 2018 and 2022. They almost beat the Germans at that tournament, losing 2-1 in extra-time after stunning South Korea in the round prior.

This time the Algerians will be led by Vladimir Petkovic, the manager who guided Switzerland to the quarter-finals at Euro 2020 and the last 16 at the 2018 World Cup.

The 62-year-old will be eager to make amends after Algeria’s disappointing quarter-final exit at the Africa Cup of Nations last year at the hands of Nigeria.

Qualification was a breeze for Algeria, winning eight, losing one and drawing one, which will see them arrive at this summer’s tournament full of confidence, and eager to cause an upset or two here.

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This Algeria squad will feature some notable names, including former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, as well as current City full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.

There’s plenty of players who currently ply their trade in Europe too including son of Zinedine, Luca Zidane, Ramy Bensebaini and Ibrahim Maza.

Group J Fixtures:

17 June 8pm local (18 June 2am BST) - vs Argentina (Kansas City)

22 June 8pm local (23 June 4am BST) – vs Jordan (San Francisco)

28 June 9pm local (29 June 3am BST) – vs Austria (Kansas City)

Player to watch: Riyad Mahrez

Algeria’s star man remains Mahrez. His powers may have faded slightly since his time at Manchester City, but the 35-year-old remains a mercurial talent, with a wand of a left foot.

Surprisingly, this is just the 35-year-old’s second appearance at a World Cup, and he’s earned over 100 caps for his country.

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Prediction: Last 16

Algeria have been drawn into a tricky group alongside Austria, Jordan and Argentina. You’d imagine that the latter will top the group, leaving second and third spots up for grabs, which look likely to be taken by Austria and Algeria.

Algeria should have enough quality to emerge for the group but it depends on what position they finish in, and what awaits them in the knockout rounds as to how deep into the tournament they go.