Algeria U17 coach Amine Ghimouz targets strong World Cup campaign

Algeria U17 coach Amine Ghimouz says his team is determined to reach the knockout stages and make a strong impression at the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

The North African side will return to the tournament for the first time since 2009, when the competition was held in Nigeria. The 2026 edition is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13.

In an interview with FIFA, Ghimouz discussed the importance of Algeria’s return to the global youth competition, the qualities of his squad and the challenge of facing Chile, Montenegro and the United States in Group J.

The coach believes the team’s qualification reflects the work being done by the Algerian Football Federation to develop young players and restore the country’s presence on the international stage.

“For us, this demonstrates the efforts made by the Algerian Football Federation to develop the sport among young people and bring Algerian football back to the international stage in grand style.”

Algeria celebrate return to World Cup

Algeria’s absence from the tournament since 2009 made their qualification a significant moment for the players and coaching staff.

The team secured their place through a draw, leaving the squad facing an anxious wait before confirmation of their participation.

Ghimouz admitted the period was tense but said the eventual announcement brought widespread happiness within the team. He also maintained that Algeria deserved to qualify based on their performances.

“It was a tense period, and we wholeheartedly hoped to qualify. The announcement of our qualification sparked great joy among the players and the coaching staff. The draw may have been favorable to us, but considering how the matches unfolded, I think we fully deserved to qualify.”

The qualification gives Algeria an opportunity to test their young talents against some of the world’s emerging footballing nations.

Ghimouz praises squad’s technical quality

The Algeria coach also highlighted the composition of his squad, which includes players developed locally and members of the Algerian diaspora playing abroad.

According to Ghimouz, the group shares a strong connection through its national identity, while the players possess qualities that could help them compete at the tournament.

He singled out their pace, energy and technical ability as notable strengths ahead of the competition.

“The team is composed of both players trained in Algeria and others from the Algerian diaspora abroad, all united by their national identity. In terms of playing style, Algerian players are known for their speed, their dynamism, and their technique. I must admit that most of our players possess exceptional technical qualities.”

The coach will hope those attributes translate into strong performances when the competition begins in Qatar.

Group J presents different challenges

Algeria have been drawn alongside Chile, Montenegro and the United States in Group J, setting up a group-stage campaign against teams with contrasting footballing approaches.

Ghimouz acknowledged the differences between the four nations but said his immediate objective was to guide Algeria into the knockout rounds.

The coach also made it clear that his ambitions extend beyond simply participating in the tournament, with the team aiming to progress as far as possible and represent their country with pride.

“This group brings together four different footballing cultures; we will therefore witness the clash of four distinct playing styles, and our ambition is to be among the teams that qualify for the knockout stage. Our ambition is to go far in the competition and, of course, to do our country proud.”

With their return to the global stage confirmed, Algeria will look to turn their qualification into a memorable campaign when the U17 World Cup begins on November 19.

For Ghimouz and his players, the challenge will be to translate their technical qualities and collective determination into results against their Group J opponents, while pursuing their ambition of progressing deep into the competition.