The Algeria national football team, nicknamed Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes), represents Algeria in international football and is governed by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. They played their first World Cup in 1982, becoming one of the first African teams to beat a major European side — West Germany — in the group stage. Throughout their history, Algeria has qualified for the World Cup five times: 1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, and now 2026. Their best performance came in 2014, when they reached the Round of 16. Over the years, Algeria has also won the Africa Cup of Nations twice (1990 and 2019) and produced notable players such as Riyad Mahrez, Lakhdar Belloumi, and Madjid Bougherra.
In October 2025, Algeria secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a convincing 3–0 victory over Somalia, topping their CAF qualifying group and ending a 12-year absence from the tournament.
Algeria’s World Cup 2026 Group — Group J
Algeria has been drawn into Group J alongside:
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Argentina — The reigning World Cup champions and a football powerhouse from South America.
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Austria — A strong European team with World Cup experience.
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Jordan — Making their first appearance at a World Cup finals.
This group stage will be competitive, with the top two teams (and some best third-placed teams) advancing to the knockout stage.
Algeria’s challenge will be to compete against a world champion side like Argentina, while aiming for a historic second trip beyond the group stage.
- Leagues
- World Cup
- Seasons
- 2026