Algeria are back on football’s biggest stage. The North African giants secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first appearance since 2014 — following a commanding 3–0 victory over Somalia that guaranteed top spot in Group G.
Captain Riyad Mahrez was the star of the show, orchestrating the opener by assisting Mohamed Amoura in the sixth minute, smashing in a brilliant second goal himself in the 19th, and later setting up Amoura again to seal a dominant result. Under Vladimir Petković, Algeria controlled the game from start to finish, leaving no doubt about their credentials for the tournament.
This marks Algeria’s fifth World Cup appearance overall. Their previous campaign, in 2014, was their most memorable, reaching the Round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Germany. After a 12-year absence, this win ends a long qualification drought and signals a return to the global spotlight.
Algeria now join fellow African nations Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt in the 2026 finals, set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With one qualifying match still to come, Petković’s squad can focus on fine-tuning their preparations ahead of what promises to be a long-awaited World Cup comeback.
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