R. Zerrouki

Algeria are back among football's elite, having sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a win over Somalia. The Desert Foxes carry the weight of a proud footballing nation, but our AI model is sober about their ceiling: a 0.0% chance of lifting the trophy, with just a 1.0% probability of reaching the semi-finals and a 0.1% shot at the final. This is a side built to compete and entertain rather than to challenge the favourites deep into the tournament.

The attacking talent is genuine. Riyad Mahrez remains the talisman and creative hub, posting 4 goals and 8 assists with a 7.53 rating at Al-Ahli Jeddah. Anis Hadj-Moussa has been a revelation at Feyenoord with 11 goals and 6 assists (7.47 rating), while Farès Ghedjemis leads the scoring charts on 15 goals at Frosinone. Mohamed Amoura adds another option from Wolfsburg with 8 goals, though his 6.72 rating is the most modest of the group. The firepower is plentiful; the question is whether the defence can match it.

Drawn in Group J, Algeria have the quality to navigate the early stage and reach the knockouts. Beyond that, the numbers tell a clear story: a run to the last 16 or quarter-finals would represent a fair return on this generation. With Mahrez orchestrating and a clutch of in-form attackers behind him, they can be dangerous on their day, but a deep run remains a long shot.