Luca Zidane earns first Algeria call-up for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda

Algeria have handed a first senior call-up to Luca Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Somalia and Uganda.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who was born in Aix-en-Provence in southern France, represented Les Bleus at youth levels but has now committed his international future to Algeria.

He is among three goalkeepers included in coach Vladimir Petkovic’s 26-man squad for the October 9 and 14 matches as the Desert Foxes aim to secure qualification.

Zidane carries a rich footballing heritage. He is the second of four brothers, all of whom progressed through Real Madrid’s famed academy.

His paternal grandparents hail from the Kabylie region of Algeria, a connection he has now formalized by pledging allegiance to the North African nation.

At club level, Zidane’s career has taken him across Spain. He made two senior appearances for Real Madrid before gaining La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano.

In 2022, he dropped into the second tier with Eibar and, two years later, moved to Granada, where he currently plies his trade.

His decision to represent Algeria comes at a pivotal moment both for his career and for the national team, who sit top of Group G in African qualifying.

The Zidane name carries immense weight in world football. His father, Zinedine, remains one of the sport’s most celebrated figures, famously scoring twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil.

He later captained France to the 2006 final in Germany, where his career ended in dramatic fashion after his infamous red card for headbutting Marco Materazzi.

For Luca Zidane, however, the challenge is now his own. He will compete for the No.1 jersey in a side that is just one victory away from sealing its place at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Algeria’s campaign so far has been consistent under Petkovic, and the inclusion of Zidane adds another layer of intrigue.

The Desert Foxes will first host Somalia before traveling to Kampala to face Uganda.

Victories in these fixtures would not only confirm their qualification but also provide Zidane with the chance to begin carving out his own legacy—one linked to his famous surname, but also distinctively his.