Algeria

History of the Algeria National Team: The Desert Foxes, from the FLN Team to the 2026 World Cup

Born even before independence and carried by one of the most intense fervours in the Arab and African world, the Algeria national team beat West Germany in 1982, won two Africa Cup of Nations titles and returned to the World Cup knockout rounds in 2026.

1. The FLN Team: Football for Liberation (1958–1962)

In April 1958, in the midst of the war of independence, around ten Algerian players at leading French clubs — including Rachid Mekhloufi, then called up by France — secretly left the country to form, in Tunis, the National Liberation Front team. For four years this side, unrecognised by FIFA, played some eighty matches around the world to promote the Algerian cause. The Algerian Football Federation was officially founded in 1962, the year of independence.

2. Gijón 1982: Triumph and Injustice

At their first World Cup, in Spain in 1982, Algeria produced one of the greatest shocks in history by beating West Germany 2–1, the reigning European champions, through Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi. After another win against Chile, they were eliminated by an arranged result between West Germany and Austria in the final match, played the following day: the "Disgrace of Gijón" led FIFA to require that final group matches be played simultaneously. Algeria also took part in the 1986 World Cup.

3. Two Africa Cup of Nations Titles (1990 and 2019)

In 1990 Algeria hosted and won their first Africa Cup of Nations. The second took almost thirty years: in Egypt in 2019, under Djamel Belmadi and led by Riyad Mahrez, they dominated the tournament and beat Senegal 1–0 in the final, sparking huge celebrations across the country and the diaspora.

4. Brazil 2014: The First Knockout Round

After returning to the World Cup in 2010, Algeria produced the best run in their history in Brazil in 2014: for the first time they came through the group stage. In the round of 16 they took Germany, the eventual world champions, to extra time before losing 2–1. Two painful play-off eliminations followed for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the latter in the final seconds against Cameroon.

5. The 2026 World Cup: Back in the Knockout Rounds

Qualified for their first World Cup since 2014, Algeria — ranked twenty-eighth — were drawn in Group J with holders Argentina, Austria and Jordan. With four points they finished third, behind Austria only on goal difference, and qualified for the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. On 2 July 2026 in Vancouver they lost 0–2 to Switzerland, the eventual quarter-finalists. It was only the second time Algeria had reached the knockout stage of a World Cup.

6. Towards 2030

Since resuming in September 2026, the Desert Foxes have approached the Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 World Cup qualifying with a squad blending home-developed players and dual nationals from Europe's top leagues. Backed by a crowd of rare passion, Algeria aim to establish themselves durably among Africa's great nations.

Honours, Stadium and Legends

Honours: two Africa Cup of Nations titles, in 1990 at home and in 2019 in Egypt, thanks to Baghdad Bounedjah's goal in the final against Senegal, as well as the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup. Even before independence, the FLN team (1958-1962), made up of players who had left the French league, toured the world to promote the Algerian cause. At the World Cup, the Desert Foxes played in 1982 — a historic 2-1 win over West Germany — 1986, 2010, 2014 — a round-of-16 defeat in extra time against eventual champions Germany — and 2026. Algiers' Stade du 5-Juillet-1962 is their temple, and the newer Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki now hosts many of their biggest matches. Rachid Mekhloufi, Lakhdar Belloumi, Rabah Madjer and his backheel in the 1987 European Cup final, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, the national team's all-time leading scorer, form their pantheon.