Algeria fans still cherish the memories of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, when the nation delivered one of their most commanding global displays and came within a whisker of defeating eventual champions Germany in the Round of 16 – a match forever etched as a defining moment in Algerian football.
That tournament represented the zenith of an era, raising expectations and cementing the image of a team capable of going toe-to-toe with the global heavyweights, but it also opened the door to questions about what would come next. As the years passed, Algeria entered a transitional phase that necessitated a tactical reshuffle, as the team also sought to preserve the legacy forged in Brazil more than a decade ago.
Twelve years on, Algeria have come roaring back. The squad that will feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ are brimming with young talents who have cut their teeth in fiercely competitive environments and are beginning to assert themselves on the domestic, continental and international stages. They will face an early test in Group J, where Argentina, Austria and Jordan await. The diversity of footballing styles in the group will demand a high tempo and elite mental and tactical preparation from the off. Algeria hope it will be just the first step of a longer journey as ambitions rise heading into future major tournaments.
Certain players have emerged as the expected spine of this next chapter, which began with the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations, where they departed at the quarter-final stage, and continues into the global showpiece in North America and beyond.
Here, FIFA profiles a selection of the new stars guiding the next phase of Algerian football.
Rayan Ait-Nouri
At 24, Ait-Nouri is the model of a modern full-back: tactically disciplined, dangerous on the attack, with searing pace and ball-carrying ability that allows him to create overloads down the left flank, plus the versatility to step into more advanced roles when required. Those qualities convinced Manchester City to invest in him last summer, in a deal worth some EUR 36 million, following an eye-catching season with Wolverhampton that confirmed his maturity and consistency at the elite level.
His City career got off to a frustrating start when an injury sidelined him for six weeks, but he has since returned and begun to find his way within Pep Guardiola’s crowded, competitive set-up. Internationally, Ait-Nouri continues to make his case as a fixture in Algeria’s line-up, having already racked up 25 caps – a solid base of experience at an age that makes him a primary face of the team’s future.
Adil Boulbina
Boulbina wasted little time making his mark outside Algeria. His hat-trick against Al Ittihad in Al Duhail’s 4-2 win in the AFC Champions League Elite was a career-defining moment – even on a night when Karim Benzema bagged a brace, the final score bore a distinctly Algerian signature. His brilliance comes as no surprise following a season in which he finished as the Algerian league’s top scorer before making his summer move from Paradou, where he came through the ranks, to Al Duhail.
The 22-year-old is the embodiment of a left-winger, blending technical wizardry and ruthless efficiency in front of goal. That was immediately evident in his debut with the national team at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™, where he established himself as a potent attacking option and finished as Algeria’s top scorer with three goals in a run that ended in the quarter-finals. He also shone in the round of 16 of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring the winning goal against the Congo DR despite coming on as a substitute in the last seven minutes. It was an international bow that signalled his readiness for bigger roles in the years ahead.
Fares Chaibi
In a team seeking balance rather than individual fireworks, Chaibi has emerged as the man who dictates the tempo. He is often deployed as a central pivot, but his ability to operate in multiple roles across the middle provides immense tactical value, whether in building from the back, linking lines or breaking up opposition play to regain possession.
Chaibi began his career at Toulouse before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt in August 2023 for around EUR 10 million. He managed to prove his ability at Frankfurt, becoming a regular starter in most matches this season, and played in all the league phase matches of the UEFA Champions League, starting five of them. Now 23, Chaibi has already amassed 27 caps for Algeria, a clear indicator of his growing status as a midfield anchor.
Mohamed El Amine Amoura
Any discussion of Algeria’s most important assets would be incomplete without highlighting the undeniable impact of Amoura, who has transformed into an attacking focal point through his sheer decisiveness and game-changing ability. With ten goals to his name, Amoura topped the list of African scorers in World Cup qualifying and played a direct role in returning the nation to the global showpiece.
He has proven his worth as a player whose pace, intelligent movement and clinical finishing come matched with the flexibility to play as an out-and-out striker or out wide. He has played 42 matches in the Algeria shirt and netted 19 times, solidifying his position as one of the team’s leading attacking weapons for the foreseeable future.
Amoura has shown similar form with Wolfsburg. After a superb first campaign on loan – 10 goals, 12 assists – Wolfsburg made the move permanent last summer, shelling out EUR 14.7 million to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Amine Gouiri
Gouiri’s decision to represent Algeria was more than a change of shirt; it was a choice rooted in identity and direction, having risen through the French system and represented them at every youth level. The sheer passion of the Algerian fanbase undoubtedly played its part in his decision as well. Now, after scoring six goals in 19 international appearances, he has become one of the players Algeria will be counting on in coming contests.
Last season with Rennes was a highlight reel for the 25-year-old, as he finished the campaign with 13 goals and five assists across all competitions, showcasing his adaptability across all attacking roles, both centrally and on the flanks. That form paved the way for his move to Marseille in the summer in a deal worth approximately EUR 19 million. Despite suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for a large part of the season, he returned to form in the new year and managed to score five goals in eight matches during January.
