Algeria set for high-profile South American friendlies ahead of 2026 World Cup

Algeria are preparing for a major test ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with the national team expected to face some of world football’s biggest names as part of a bold international tour next year.

According to Gazette du Fennec, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is in advanced discussions to organise a series of high-profile friendlies against top South American and North American opponents.

Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico are among the nations being lined up, with two of those fixtures likely to take place as early as March 2026.

The initiative forms part of head coach Vladimir Petkovic’s broader strategy to expose his squad to different styles of play and tougher opposition ahead of the World Cup.

Having navigated regional rivalries within Africa, the FAF now aims to prepare the “Fennecs” for the intensity and tactical diversity of a global stage.

This approach is the result of collaborative work between the federation and the technical staff, the report stated, highlighting the shared ambition to raise Algeria’s competitive standard before the tournament.

A clash with world champions Argentina is believed to be the most advanced of the planned fixtures, thanks to an ongoing partnership between the Algerian and Argentine football federations.

Such a meeting would represent one of the most prestigious friendlies in Algeria’s modern history and a valuable benchmark for Petkovic’s men.

Facing teams of that calibre would allow Algeria to test their defensive organisation and attacking transitions against some of the most technically gifted and tactically astute sides in world football.

It would also provide Petkovic a chance to measure how his squad — led by senior figures such as Riyad Mahrez — responds to top-level international pressure ahead of a demanding World Cup campaign.

Before turning their attention to the South American tour, Algeria will play two friendly matches in Jeddah this November, meeting Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.

Those fixtures will serve as a foundation for the team’s build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Fennecs hope to reaffirm their place among the continent’s elite after recent disappointments.

The FAF’s new direction signals a clear intent: to ensure that Algeria not only qualifies for the 2026 World Cup but arrives ready to compete with the world’s best.

With negotiations reportedly progressing well, fans may soon witness their team take on the reigning world champions or the footballing giants of Brazil in a series of encounters that could define their road to North America.