Algeria is back among football’s elite. The North African nation has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada — ending a 12-year absence from the world’s biggest stage.

How Did Algeria Secure Its Spot?

The team coached by Djamel Belmadi booked its ticket after a 3–0 win over Somalia, led by a stellar performance from Riyad Mahrez.

The Al Ahli winger was at the heart of everything: he assisted Mohamed Amoura’s opener in the 6th minute, scored the second himself with a trademark left-footed strike in the 19th, and later set up Amoura again to seal the victory.

With this result, Algeria became the 20th team to qualify for the 2026 tournament and the fourth African nation to do so, joining Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. The CAF (African Football Confederation) has nine direct berths plus one intercontinental playoff slot for this expanded edition of the World Cup.

When Was Algeria’s Last World Cup Appearance?

Algeria last competed in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where it enjoyed a historic campaign by reaching the Round of 16 before narrowly losing to eventual champions Germany (2–1 in extra time).

For Riyad Mahrez, this qualification marks a long-awaited return to the world stage — and the chance to lead a new generation of Desert Foxes eager to restore the country’s status as one of Africa’s most formidable sides.

The 20 Nations Qualified So Far for the 2026 World Cup

Hosts: United States, Mexico, Canada
CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia
CAF: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria
AFC: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia
OFC: New Zealand

Meanwhile, Europe (UEFA) is still deep in its qualifying process, while New Caledonia will take part in the intercontinental playoff hoping to reach its first-ever World Cup.