Desert warriors brace for World Cup battle

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially on for Algeria, as head coach Vladimir Petkovic prepares to unveil his final 26-man squad during a highly anticipated press conference this Sunday at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki.

With excitement building across the country, all eyes are now on the Bosnian manager, who is expected to address several major questions surrounding the Green Falcons’ squad selection including the likely absence of experienced names such as Baghdad Bounedjah and Ismaël Bennacer. Petkovic could also shed light on the situations of Luka Zidane, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Ramy Bensebaïni ahead of the global tournament.

Placed in a challenging Group J alongside reigning world champions Argentina, Jordan and Austria, Algeria face a demanding path in the United States next month. Riyad Mahrez and his teammates will begin their World Cup journey with a blockbuster clash against Lionel Messi’s Argentina before taking on Jordan in a historic Arab showdown carrying huge qualification stakes.

The group stage will conclude with a highly emotional encounter against Austria a match loaded with memories dating back to the infamous “Disgrace of Gijón” in 1982, when Algeria’s dream run ended in one of football’s most controversial chapters. More than four decades later, the Desert Warriors now have a chance to write a new story on the world stage.