The football World Cup trophy arrived in Algiers on Sunday and was presented at the El-Mouradia Presidential Palace, marking a symbolic stop on its global tour ahead of the 2026 tournament.
As part of a long-standing tradition in the build-up to the world’s biggest football event, the iconic golden trophy is visiting several countries around the globe.
The tour comes months before the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico and will feature 48 national teams for the first time.
Algiers was one of the latest destinations on this journey, with the trophy making a high-profile appearance at the seat of the Algerian presidency.
A formal ceremony was held at El-Mouradia Palace, where President Abdelmadjid Tebboune received a FIFA delegation led by former Germany international and World Cup winner Jürgen Klinsmann.
The event brought together political leaders and prominent figures from Algerian football, underlining the symbolic weight of the visit.
Ministers of Youth and Sports Mustapha Hidaoui and Walid Sadi were in attendance, alongside several celebrated names from the country’s football history.
Among them were Mohamed Maouche, a former member of the historic National Liberation Front (FLN) team, as well as Lakhdar Belloumi, Rabah Madjer, Salah Assad and Ali Bencheikh.
Current internationals Ibrahim Maza, Luca Zidane and Zineddine Belaïd were also present, along with Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic.
The gathering was further attended by Kamel Sidi Saïd, Adviser to the President and Director of Communication at the Presidency of the Republic, and a representative of The Coca-Cola Company, a long-time major sponsor of FIFA and the World Cup.
The stop in Algiers formed part of a wider tour taking the trophy to around 30 countries, particularly those connected to the global game and the upcoming finals.
For Algeria, the visit offered a rare opportunity to bring together past and present figures of the national team around football’s most coveted prize.
Following its appearance at the presidential palace, the trophy is set to be displayed at the Aurassi Hotel in Algiers.
Selected guests will be able to view the trophy up close and take photographs, creating lasting memories ahead of the World Cup itself.
The visit concludes as attention gradually turns towards the finals in North America, where Algeria’s supporters will hope to see the Greens take centre stage later this year.
