Algeria 26 World Cup Preview

Algeria can still somewhat remember how the MAFCON trophy feels, lifting it in 2019. How has that generation paired the continental crown with World Cup performances?

They haven't paired it at all - they failed to make both the 2018 & 2022 tournaments sandwiching their victorious campaign. Thus, I'm anticipating an Algerian side touching down this summer very eager to make a statement. The last time out in the big dance they were able to make a fun Round of 16 appearance & they should be out to repeat it again - they're good enough to.

They've been going with a 4-3-3 variation in recent years, but did roll out a 5-4-1 in a Uruguay friendly in March. A tweak that will have my eyes on their pre-tournament friendlies to see if that seems to be a pivot they're committing to. But I'll write as if it's a 4-3-3.

Algeria are the most possession-loving team in all of Africa right now, a style they've grown into as they have some very skillful midfielders who can run the game. Folks should know Ismael Bennacer, but may not know about the quality Hicham Boudaoui brings next to him. Or the fact that Houssem Aouar committed to Algeria this cycle. Those 3 with some others rotating in probably make for the best in-possession midfield in CAF, capable of draining other teams by not letting them see the rock. Hero of the MAFCON victory Riyad Mahrez is still around, but the tempo runs through that midfield behind him. These day he's primarily looked to as a final 3rd arriver, less so to find an assist but instead to be the finish. He isn't in their 3 most key players if you ask me, but still decent!

Expect the fullbacks to get high providing width if they run with the back 4, with Atal overlapping Mahrez & Ait Nouri on the other side. Between them, the back line is led by Ramy Bensebaini & is extremely good at defending, especially being opened up a lot by their possession.

In goal is Luca Zidane, resulting in every goddamn MAFCON commentator talking about Zinedine multiple times each Algeria game. He is far from lights out, let's say, & there is a segment of the fanbase with the feeling that he's a little favored because of his name:

The final squad was announce today & Zidane comes in, amazingly, as the most experienced goalkeeper in the team with 6 caps. The other goalkeepers at 2 & 1 cap, respectively.

Worth somebody researching if this is the least experienced goalkeeping pool in World Cup history, sounds like it!

Algeria rely on 2 particular players' availability to push them to a great, last 16 level. Mr. Brightside will go on about one of them, so I'll talk about Bennacer's importance. He only stands out if you watch full 90s for Algeria, he won't be noticed in a highlight package. When you most notice him, however, is in his absence. Algeria got knocked out of 2026 AFCON by Nigeria without Bennacer & the Super Eagles wiped the floor with these guys. Algeria couldn't string 3 passes together & were completely overrun in the midfield; it was a total mess. Bennacer is the strongest glue in the midfield by a wide margin, both for his ability to dictate the possession as well as position himself & the team to be rest defending at a level needed for their attack.

The squad was announced today. He is not healthy enough to go to this World Cup.

Another squad announcement scratch that leaves me scratch-ing my head (sorry) is the fact that Baghdad Bounedjah has been left at home, seemingly Petkovic's decision. To me he's been their best traditional 9, important to have against low blocks. That's a orange flag for me.

Algeria are well prepared to adapt as needed in a Men's World Cup. Their talent falls in the middle where they'll have games against bunkers & games without much of the ball. We've talked a lot about their possession-heavy style, but this is similarly a team that I would trust having to roll up into a shell to defend their own final third a ton. Part of that is that they have an amazing forward who is particularly lethal on the counterattack: Mohamed Amoura.

The striker has taken the national team by storm in the past couple of years & has individually become such a threat to score that as long as he is on the field, Algeria are always dangerous. He could be on the Fastest Sprint charts on the tournament if those go around as they usually do:

He's a short player at 5'7 but deceptively good as a center forward, if used there; he's always running the horizontal lines to get in behind & can make do with not a lot of space. We saw shifts from him both there & at left wing in the 2026 Cup of Nations.

Amoura's positioning could change with Algeria's approaches too - against a team refusing space in behind, he could be out wide as they bring in a traditional big 9 to be a more effective force in the box.

But Amoura can do a bit of that too, even:

Amoura is a first name on my shortlist of darkhorse Best 11 or even Golden Boot shouts in this tournament, the guy is unbelievable no matter where he plays; I think his icing-out in the Nigeria loss was a lot more chalked up to their midfield being unable to deal with the press to hit him in.

I've done some early brackets, for fun but all with things I of course believe are in the realm of possibility, that ended up with Algeria in the quarterfinals. They're in a small collection of teams that I just *feel* are due for a massive tournament this summer.

Then I returned to this draft after the squad was announced with Bennacer out, so I'm having to pull back that ceiling to the Round of 16. Also lowering the floor, where now I do think there is a scenario where they don't escape the group stage too - previously I penned them into the bracket.

My feeling on them has swung drastically with this Bennacer news, but things could still favor them for a knockout win. 3rd place in J feels likely now & that will likely give them a R32 game where they can bunker & hit Amoura, minimize the need for Bennacer.

That'll still be a good tournament.