Algeria Name World Cup Squad: Bentaleb Returns, Mahrez Headlines Petkovic’s 26

Vladimir names Algeria World Cup squad

Vladimir Petkovic unveiled Algeria’s World Cup squad Sunday. Bentaleb returns after October absence. Algeria play Netherlands and Bolivia in warm-ups.

Algeria return to the World Cup after 12 years. Petkovic recalls Bentaleb and Benbot. Warm-up friendlies vs Netherlands and Bolivia before Group J...

Riyad Mahrez will lead Algeria at the World Cup as coach Vladimir Petkovic named his final squad Sunday for the 2026 tournament across Canada, Mexico and the USA. Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb also earned a surprise recall.

Bentaleb, 31, returns for the first time since last October. Algeria’s squad is boosted by the comebacks of key attackers Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri too. Both missed the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco earlier this year through injury.

Bentaleb was part of Algeria’s 2014 World Cup team in Brazil when the Desert Foxes reached the knockout stage. But he’s had several long spells away from the national team since then.

Petkovic backed the decision to bring him back. “We know Bentaleb well; he has all the qualities as a person for the group too,” the coach said. “He has shown he's in form these last few months.”

Algeria also recalled goalkeeper Oussama Benbot. He had announced his international retirement after sitting on the bench unused at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco earlier this year, but returns now to ease a goalkeeping shortage.

Benbot’s recent form for USM Alger earned him the call-up. The 31-year-old helped his club win the CAF Confederation Cup final this month. He’s clashed with Petkovic before over limited game time though.

Luca Zidane was Algeria’s No. 1 at the Africa Cup of Nations. The son of France legend Zinedine Zidane struggled for form in Morocco and then broke his jaw and chin in April while playing for Granada in Spain.

Algeria haven’t been at a World Cup since 2014. They’ll tune up with a friendly vs the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Wednesday, then face Bolivia in Kansas City on June 10 for their final warm-up in the US.

The Desert Foxes landed in a tough Group J for the tournament. They’ll take on defending champions Argentina, plus Austria and Jordan.

ALGERIA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Masstil (Stade Nyonnaise), Luca Zidane (Granada)

Defenders: Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Rayan Ait Nouri (Manchester City), Zinedine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Verona), Ramy ‌Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine Titraoui (Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente)

Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (VfL Wolfsburg), Nadir Benbouali (Gyori ETO), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Fares ⁠Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille), Riyad ⁠Mahrez (Al Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord ‌Rotterdam)

Standby goalkeeper: Abdellatif Ramdane (Mouloudia Alger)

قائمة الناخب الوطني فلاديمير بيتكوفيتش المعنية بكأس العالم 2026#LesVerts⭐️⭐️ | #123VivaLAlgérie 🇩🇿| #WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/PTVECAQRlT

— Équipe d'Algérie de football (@LesVerts) May 31, 2026