Algeria waited until the second-to-last day to unveil its 2026 World Cup squad, releasing an intriguing roster headlined by Riyad Mahrez and, at long last, Luca Zidane.

The Granada goalkeeper chose to represent the country of his father’s birth and, after several trial appearances and an Africa Cup of Nations campaign, has earned his place among head coach Vladimir Petkovic’s selections.

The mystery behind Algeria’s roster

The most puzzling aspect of the announcement is the number of players included. Algeria has named 27 players, one more than FIFA allows for the World Cup, meaning this is unlikely to be the team’s final roster.

While Algerian officials have yet to clarify the situation, the presence of four goalkeepers suggests that one of them could ultimately miss out on the tournament.

A team built around dangerous wide players

A closer look at Algeria’s squad reveals a team whose greatest strengths lie on the flanks. Wingers such as Mahrez and Anis Hadj Moussa, along with attack-minded fullback Rayan Ait-Nouri, make Algeria a constant threat in wide areas.

That could spell trouble for the other teams in Group J: Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Organized chaos

Algerian players have long been known for their technical quality, creativity in one-on-one situations and ability to unlock defenses with a moment of brilliance. This squad is no exception.

Beyond the previously mentioned stars, players such as Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri possess the kind of talent that can take over a game when they find their rhythm.

The result is a team that can be difficult to predict, difficult to contain and capable of troubling almost any opponent. If everything clicks, Algeria has the tools to emerge as one of the tournament’s most dangerous dark horses.

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