Having missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (eliminated in qualifying by Nigeria and Cameroon, respectively), Algeria’s return to the global stage in North America represented a significant comeback.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup may be over for them, but performances throughout the summer suggest a return to the top of African football could be on the horizon for the nation.
But a transitional period could follow the team’s North American journey, with Vladimir Petković fired after the team’s exit from the World Cup this summer. There will also be an expectation that younger stars will need to step up, since talismanic Riyad Mahrez announced his retirement from international football at the start of July.
Here’s how the Greens‘ displays this summer measure up against their World Cup past.
[
Return to the Knockout Stage a Positive
Algeria’s most notable achievement in 2026 was reaching the knockout stage for the second time in their history.
A slight disappointment is that they were unable to match Algeria’s best World Cup showing, which came in 2014 when they reached the round of 16.
While the run to the next round looks positive on paper, they finished 30th overall, marking the worst result for Algeria at the World Cup in history.
Positive Displays in Competitive Group J
The Greens will take positives from their Group J performances, overcoming Jordan and playing out a thrilling draw against Austria after losing 3-0 to Argentina on MD1.
In truth, Algeria arguably should have finished second in the standings, but they paid a costly price against Austria when conceding a 96th-minute equaliser.
Their third-place finish ultimately made no difference, since it meant avoiding a showdown with Spain and facing a slightly easier assignment against Switzerland instead.
Offensively, Vladimir Petković’s men were strong in Algeria’s World Cup group stage, scoring five goals in three fixtures. However, defensive improvement will be required when AFCON qualification gets underway after allowing seven goals in the opening round.
Round of 32 Performance Led to Petković’s Dismissal
Ultimately, there was disappointment for Algeria’s World Cup squad, as they were easily beaten in the round of 32 by Switzerland. The manner of the defeat was costly for Petković, who was fired just days later.
Despite dominating the ball, the Greens struggled in the transitions against a pacey opponent, allowing eight shots in the 2-0 loss. In the offensive areas, the African nation were too passive, registering just two shots on target.
Their lack of quality in the final third was reflected by their low xG of 0.74, with Algeria’s best opening coming inside the first six minutes, but Houssem Aouar failed to make clean contact.
Mahrez Shines, But Hero Retires
For much of modern history, Algeria’s World Cup wins have depended on Riyad Mahrez’s form. The former Manchester City player certainly rose to the occasion in North America this summer, registering two goals and one assist in four appearances.
Both efforts were registered in the pivotal 3-3 draw against Austria, while the assist came in the win against Jordan. However, Algeria’s overreliance on their star man will lead to a period of transition, as the superstar announced his retirement after the loss against Switzerland.
Mahrez will be remembered as one of the greatest Algerian players in history, scoring 40 goals in 119 appearances and being the key man in the Greens’ 2019 AFCON title. Anis Hadj Moussa could be the heir to Mahrez. The 24-year-old played three times during the World Cup, and his progress at club level caught the eye in 2025-26, recording 13 goal involvements in 30 games.
[
](https://news.22bet.com/telegram)
New Era Set to Begin for Algeria
All eyes will be on the national team later this year, as AFCON qualification gets underway. Algeria will come up against Zambia, Togo, and Burundi in their bid to reach the major tournament for the eighth consecutive occasion.
Antar Yahia is set to be the next coach of the national team, having previously represented the nation on 53 occasions between 2004 and 2012.
The new era will see Algeria test out wingers following Mahrez’s retirement, but World Cup performers like Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri will likely play influential roles.