Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Fantasy campaign, we’re taking a closer look at each nation competing at this summer’s tournament – highlighting their recent form, qualifying matches, key players and more.

One of Africa’s most experienced World Cup nations, Algeria, are next up. The North African side are preparing for their fifth World Cup finals.

Their best performance was in 2014, when they reached the round of 16.

Algeria have been coached for the last two years by Vladimir Petkovic, the inscrutable former Switzerland tactician. Known for guiding the Swiss out of the group stage of the 2016 and 2020 Euros and the 2018 World Cup, he is a coach with a decent international track record. He gives absolutely nothing away in press conferences and has lent his side an air of complete unpredictability going into these finals.

The bookies aren’t convinced, though. Algeria are not fancied to finish in the top two in Group J.

SQUAD

There were several big-name omissions from Pektovic’s World Cup squad, with Said Benrahma, injured right-back Youcef Atal and AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer among those not making the cut.

Old stagers Riyad Mahrez ($6.5m), 35, Aissa Mandi ($3.9m), 34, and Nabil Bentaleb ($5.5m), 31 provide experience to an otherwise youthful squad, which includes one Luca Zidane ($3.8m), Zizou’s goalkeeping son, and Man City full-back, Rayan Ait-Nouri ($4.9m).

THE ROAD TO QUALIFICATION

Petkovic’s reign got off to the worst possible start when Algeria lost to Guinea in their third World Cup qualifying match, but thereafter results improved markedly. Les Fennecs won six out of their next seven qualifiers, drawing the other 0-0, to secure safe passage to the finals.  

Algeria finished third-top scorers with 24 goals in qualifying, while they achieved the joint-fifth most points (25).

The Desert Foxes are not as strong from a defensive standpoint. They kept only three clean sheets, shipped eight goals, and ranked well down the list for xG conceded per 90 minutes:

BIGGEST GOAL THREATS IN QUALIFICATION

The above xG is non-penalty

Mohamed Amoura ($6.2m) has occasionally featured as a striker but predominantly plays off the left, and it’s from there where he did most of his damage in qualification.

Amoura was the top goalscorer in African qualifying with 10 goals. No one in the Algerian squad registered as many shots (25) or as much xG (4.74), either.

The xGs of striker Amine Gouri ($6.2m) and, especially, opposite winger Mahrez look paltry by comparison, even allowing for the game-time difference.

Baghdad Bounedjah and Benraham appear prominently in the above table, too, but didn’t make the squad.

MOST CREATIVE PLAYERS IN QUALIFYING

Mahrez and Amoura underscored their importance to this attack-minded Algeria outfit with four assists each in the qualifying stage and 19 and 14 key passes, respectively.

Only six other players weighed in with assists, which suggests this duo was doing all the heavy lifting.

SINCE QUALIFICATION

Algeria have lost only once since qualification, to Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-finals.

Their AFCON campaign was an undoubted disappointment for a nation that were African champions as recently as 2019, but since the Nigeria reverse, Algeria have quietly been gathering a head of steam.

They will be encouraged by their last two results against decent opposition – the draw with Uruguay and, most recently, a victory over the Netherlands – although Petkovic’s side were a touch lucky to come away with the win in Rotterdam. They mustered only eight shots, compared with the Dutchmen’s 17, and only two of those were on target.

Nonetheless, Petkovic will be buoyed by his side holding firm against the Oranje attack.

The four post-qualification friendlies have yielded familiar results: Amoura the leading shot-taker (10), Mahrez the top chance creator (nine).

Right-back Rafik Belghali ($3.5m) and exciting attacking midfielder Ibrahima Maza ($5.4m) have established themselves in the team over this period.

There’s one last friendly to come, against Bolivia on the eve of the World Cup.

WORLD CUP FIXTURES

Algeria get their World Cup campaign under way against the holders Argentina on 17 June. No one is expecting them to keep Messrs Messi, Martinez and Alvarez quiet in that brutal baptism of fire, but they will be supremelely confident of beating Jordan on Matchday 2.

It could be ‘winner takes second’ on the final day.

TOP FANTASY PICKS

Mohamed Amoura ($6.2m) and Riyad Mahrez ($6.5m) look like standout picks for Matchdays 2 and 3.

With 10 goals and four assists in qualifying, Amoura has to be strongly considered from Matchday 2, if not their opening match, while Mahrez has the enduring quality and ability from set pieces to create chances, as his four assists in qualifying showed.

The former Leicester and Man City winger is also on penalties, so that enhances his credentials as a differential midfielder, although his minutes may be managed.

Amoura and Mahrez are 0.1% and 0.7% owned, so could reap Scout Bonus point rewards.

Their positional classifications could also be handy. Shot-happy Moura is classified as a forward, and as such qualifies for bonus points for efforts on target. Arch-creator Mahrez, meanwhile, is listed as a midfielder, so is eligible for bonus for making key passes.

Rafik Belghali ($3.5m) leaps out for those looking at an Algerian defender from Round 2 onwards.

There are no cheaper defenders in World Cup Fantasy, and he’s a cool $1.4m less expensive than fellow full-back Rayan Air-Nouri ($4.7m).