Algeria ended their 2026 World Cup campaign with a loss to Switzerland in the round of 32.
The North African side just edged into the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams after a dramatic and hard-fought group campaign.
They opened with a defeat to Argentina but responded with a narrow win over Jordan before sealing progression in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Austria in one of the games of the tournament.
Algeria World Cup 2026 route to the final
However, it wasn’t meant to be for them. Switzerland’s Breel Embolo crushed their dreams just 10 minutes into the round of 32 and Dan Ndoye scored in the first minute of the second half to seal the deal.
Had they beat the Swiss, they would have a tough path in front of them, starting with either Colombia or Ghana in the last 16.
The quarter-finals could then have brought a meeting with Argentina, before a potential semi-final against either England or Brazil.
READ MORE: Get the latest Algeria World Cup 2026 odds here
Algeria World Cup 2026 stats
Algeria key players for World Cup 2026
Algeria top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Riyad Mahrez
- Key stat: Riyad Mahrez has scored 37 goals for Algeria across his career.
Riyad Mahrez remains Algeria’s star man and this will almost definitely be his last World Cup, as he will be 39 in 2030. Although Mahrez isn’t the striker, he is one of Algeria’s all-time top goalscorers. Only Islam Slimani (45) has scored more goals for Algeria than Mahrez, but the 37-year-old striker was not in their squad for the tournament.
Mahrez did finish the World Cup as Les Fennecs’ top scorer with two goals, moving him just five behind Slimani in the all-time rankings. But it wasn’t enough to fire them into the last 16.
Algeria primary playmaker: Houssem Aouar
- Key stat: Houssem Aouar assisted 40% of Algeria’s goals in the 2026 World Cup.
While Mahrez will also be creating, Algeria know they can rely on Houssem Aouar to share the load. The 28-year-old only started two of their four games, but the first one was loud: two assists in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Austria.
He created a further two chances against Switzerland but didn’t do enough in the final third to help his team prevent a 0-2 helpless loss.
Algeria card magnets & top tacklers: Ramiz Zerrouki
- Key stat: Ramiz Zerrouki has made 47 tackles in the Eredivisie this season.
Ramiz Zerrouki is another who wasn’t an ever-present at Afcon, but he did play 164 minutes across four games. In that time, he avearged 5.49 tackles per 90 minutes — the best record at the tournament. It’s not a surprise, either. Zerrouki averages 2.12 tackles per 90 in the Eredivisie this season. He does also average 1.58 fouls committed per 90, with two total yellow cards.
Algeria rising star: Ibrahim Maza
Ibrahima Maza started four of Algeria’s five games at Afcon, earning a spot in the first-choice XI after a fine cameo against Sudan. Maza scored two and provided one assist across the tournament, playing either just behind the striker or alongside him. Maza only turned 20 in November and looks to be the next bright young star coming out of Algeria.
STAND-OUT STAT: Algeria were the first African nation to ever win two matches at a single World Cup, beating West Germany and Chile in 1982.
Set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Riyad Mahrez
- Free kicks: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
- Corners: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
Algeria tactical analysis and formation
Team stats (average per game from last four matches):
- Corners: 3.25
- Shots on target: 4.25
- Shots on target conceded: 3.0
- Offsides: 0.75
Algeria generally play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though they have experimented with two strikers at times.
That was exactly the case against Jordan, when Vladimir Petkovic made no significant changes to the structure but added a target man, moving striker Amine Gouiri to the wing. The setup has Riyad Mahrez on his favoured right side, surrounded by creative talent to support the lone striker. There is more solidity just in front of the defence in the double pivot of Ramiz Zerrouki and Hicham Boudaoui.
READ MORE: Get the latest Algeria World Cup 2026 goals, shots, assists, tackle stats and more here
Algeria manager analysis
Vladimir Petkovic is a name (or a face) that a lot of international fans will recognize. He spent seven years in charge of the Switzerland national team, overseeing their 2018 World Cup campaign. Petkovic took the Algeria reins at the start of 2024, replacing Djamel Belmadi after the Fennecs were knocked out of the group stage at Afcon. He’s had a decent run with Algeria so far, losing just three of his 41 games so far.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vladimir Petkovic | Algeria | 33 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 74 | 30 | 69.7% |
Algeria World Cup FAQs
Have Algeria ever won the World Cup?
Algeria have never won the World Cup, making it past the group stage in just one of their four previous appearances.
Where did Algeria finish in the last World Cup?
Algeria were not present at the World Cup in 2022, last qualifying in 2014.
Who will be Algeria captain at the World Cup?
Riyad Mahrez is expected to continue as Algeria captain for the World Cup
Who is Algeria’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Three players have scored two goals for Algeria at the World Cup, with Salah Assad, Abdelmoumene Djabou and Islam Slimani the leading scorers.
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