Algeria have officially booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3–0 victory over Somalia on Thursday, sealing their return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2014.
The win in Algiers, orchestrated by head coach Djamel Belmadi, saw Riyad Mahrez deliver a masterclass performance.
The Al Ahli winger assisted Mohamed Amoura’s opener in the 6th minute, doubled the lead with a trademark left-footed finish in the 19th, and later teed up Amoura again to complete the rout.
The result confirmed Algeria as the 20th nation to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has nine automatic slots plus one intercontinental playoff berth for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Algeria last featured at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, where they famously reached the Round of 16 before losing narrowly to eventual champions Germany 2–1 after extra time.
For Mahrez, this qualification marks a personal milestone and a chance to lead a new generation of Desert Foxes eager to restore Algeria’s reputation among Africa’s elite.
So far, 20 teams have secured qualification for the 2026 finals. Hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada are joined by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Colombia from South America; Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, and Australia from Asia; New Zealand from Oceania; and Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and now Algeria from Africa.
The European qualifiers remain ongoing, with several UEFA nations still battling for their spots.
