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Preparations for Algeria’s 2026 World Cup campaign are gathering pace with a set of international friendlies on the horizon.

The Algerian national team is shaping up for its first World Cup appearance in 12 years, as head coach Vladimir Petkovic continues to refine his squad ahead of the global showpiece.

While Petkovic’s selection may not be among the tournament’s most star-studded, it features several familiar names across a balanced roster announced for the March friendlies against Guatemala and Uruguay, both to be played in Italy.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching and group rivals Argentina among the heavy favourites, Petkovic and his side will be eager to make a strong impression after missing the last two editions of the tournament.

Algeria endured a packed schedule through December and January. They topped their group at the Arab Cup but were eliminated in the second round after a penalty shootout defeat to the United Arab Emirates. That was followed by their campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

In Morocco, Algeria again finished top of their group, defeating DR Congo in the round of 16 before bowing out 2-0 to Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

Star winger Riyad Mahrez will finally get the opportunity to shine on football’s grandest stage after years of excellence in the Premier League and Champions League, followed by his move to the Middle East.

He will be supported by a talented cast including Premier League standout Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marseille forward Amine Gouiri, and goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane.

Below is the full squad named by Petkovic for the upcoming fixtures:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen), Luca Zidane (Granada), Melvin Mastil (Stade Nyonnais), Kilian Belazzoug (Rennes B).

Defenders: Aissa Mandi (Lille), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona), Zineddine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Achref Abada (USM Alger), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Sohaib Nair (Guingamp).

Midfielders: Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Houssem Aouar (Al-Ittihad), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yacine Titraoui (Charleroi), Adil Aouchiche (Schalke 04).

Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Mohamed Amoura (VfL Wolfsburg), Amine Gouiri (Marseille), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Amin Chiakha (Rosenborg), Nadhir Benbouali (Gyor), Fares Ghedjemis (Frosinone).

Upcoming fixtures:

June 03, 2026: Netherlands vs Algeria, Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam, Netherlands

June 16, 2026: Argentina vs Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States

June 22, 2026: Jordan vs Algeria, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, United States

June 27, 2026: Algeria vs Austria, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States

Recent results:

March 27, 2026: Algeria 7-0 Guatemala, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy

March 31, 2026: Algeria 0-0 Uruguay, Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy

January 10, 2026: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria, Marrakech Stadium, Marrakech, Morocco

January 06, 2026: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco

December 31, 2025: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco

December 28, 2025: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco

December 24, 2025: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat, Morocco

December 12, 2025: Algeria 1-1 UAE (6-7 pens), Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar

December 09, 2025: Algeria 2-0 Iraq, Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar

December 06, 2025: Bahrain 1-5 Algeria, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar

December 03, 2025: Algeria 0-0 Sudan, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar

November 18, 2025: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Algeria, King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

November 13, 2025: Algeria 3-1 Zimbabwe, Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria

October 14, 2025: Algeria 2-1 Uganda, Stade Miloud Hadefi, Oran, Algeria

October 09, 2025: Somalia 0-3 Algeria, Mogadishu Stadium, Mogadishu, Somalia

September 08, 2025: Guinea 0-0 Algeria, Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea

September 04, 2025: Algeria 3-1 Botswana, Stade de Berraki, Algiers, Algeria

August 23, 2025: Sudan 1-1 Algeria (4-2 pens), Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco

August 18, 2025: Algeria 0-0 Niger, Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria

August 15, 2025: Guinea 1-1 Algeria, Stade Miloud Hadefi, Oran, Algeria

August 08, 2025: Algeria 1-1 South Africa, Stade de Berraki, Algiers, Algeria

August 04, 2025: Uganda 0-3 Algeria, Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda

June 10, 2025: Sweden 4-3 Algeria, Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden

June 09, 2025: Algeria 2-0 Rwanda, Stade Miloud Hadefi, Oran, Algeria

June 05, 2025: Algeria 2-0 Rwanda, Stade Miloud Hadefi, Oran, Algeria

March 25, 2025: Algeria 5-1 Mozambique, Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria

March 21, 2025: Botswana 1-3 Algeria, Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, Francistown, Botswana

Algeria will compete in Group J at the 2026 World Cup.

Vladimir Petkovic is now leading his second international side after previously managing Switzerland between 2014 and 2021. During that tenure, he guided the Swiss team through the 2016 and postponed 2020 European Championships, as well as the 2018 World Cup.

He took charge of Algeria in February 2024 after the departure of Djamel Belmadi, following a second successive Africa Cup of Nations campaign in which Algeria failed to progress from the group stage.

For years, Riyad Mahrez was one of the Premier League’s brightest stars. In 2016, he played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s historic title win and earned the PFA Player of the Year award after contributing 17 goals and 10 assists.

Mahrez now plies his trade with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, where he helped the club clinch their first-ever AFC Champions League title during the 2024–25 season. He remains a vital figure for Algeria, whose fortunes often reflect his form on the field.