Algeria: Vladimir Petkovic faces scrutiny over Guatemala fixture

Algeria’s decision to face Guatemala in a March friendly has prompted questions about the value of the fixture as the national side step up preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

The Algerian Football Federation confirmed on Friday that the Greens will hold a training camp in Italy from 23 to 31 March, during which they will play two matches.

The first, against Guatemala, is scheduled for 27 March at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa. Four days later, they will meet Uruguay at Turin’s Allianz Stadium.

While the encounter with Uruguay — a two-time world champion — is widely viewed as a high-level test, the choice of Guatemala has raised doubts about its sporting relevance.

Ranked 94th in the latest FIFA standings, Guatemala have limited pedigree at major international tournaments.

Their only notable success remains a Gold Cup triumph in 1967.

Critics argue that such opposition offers little resemblance to the calibre of teams Algeria are likely to face at the World Cup in the Americas.

Head coach Vladimir Petkovic will see the March camp as a key phase in refining his squad, but observers question what lessons can realistically be drawn from facing a side perceived to be significantly weaker in terms of physical, technical and tactical standards.

The disparity is also reflected in market valuations.

Guatemala’s squad is estimated at around six million euros in total, a figure that contrasts sharply with Algeria’s overall valuation of nearly 230 million euros.

Midfielder Hichem Boudaoui alone is valued at roughly half the Guatemalan team’s combined worth.

On the pitch, the gap appears equally pronounced.

Many Guatemalan players compete in a domestic league ranked 72nd globally by the IFFHS, representing clubs such as CSD Municipal, Antigua GFC and Comunicaciones FC.

By comparison, Algeria’s Ligue 1 Mobilis stands 45th in the same ranking.

Only a handful of Guatemala’s squad members, including Matthew Evans of Los Angeles FC’s reserve side and 17-year-old striker Marvin Avila Junior of São Paulo’s reserves, have exposure to football outside their domestic competition.

For Algeria, the challenge will be ensuring that the first fixture of the international window serves a meaningful purpose before attention turns to the sterner examination posed by Uruguay.