Mahrez leads Algeria to first World Cup since 2014
Algeria has officially booked its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the fourth African nation to qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament.
A commanding 3-0 victory over Somalia on Thursday secured top spot in Group G of the African qualifiers and marked Algeria’s return to the global stage for the first time in over a decade.
Led by captain Riyad Mahrez and head coach Vladimir Petkovic, the former Switzerland boss, Algeria joins fellow North African heavyweights Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, as early qualifiers for next year’s tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This will be Algeria’s fifth appearance at the World Cup. Their best performance came in 2014, when they reached the round of 16 before bowing out to eventual champions Germany.
The team’s qualification adds to a strong showing from North Africa, with all four confirmed African spots so far claimed by nations from the region.
Although Thursday’s match was officially a home fixture for Somalia, it was played at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex in Algeria, where fans were treated to a vintage performance from Mahrez.
The 34-year-old winger, now playing for Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, assisted Mohamed Amoura twice, once in the sixth minute and again in the 58th, while scoring a thunderous goal himself in the 19th minute.
