You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.The Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) will be represented by a record eight teams at the 2026 World Cup: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Iran, which is geographically in the Middle East, is part of the Central Asian Football Association.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe participation of so many Arabic-speaking teams at a World Cup is unprecedented.Morocco’s historic feat of becoming the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup semifinals at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 has bolstered the confidence of other MENA countries. Some teams believe they now have a shot at reaching the knockout phases in North America.Al Jazeera breaks down the chances of each side before the tournament kicks off on June 11: Algeria will look to star winger Riyad Mahrez for goals and assists [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]⚽ Algeria
World Cup appearances: 5 (1982, 1986, 2010, 2014, 2026)
Best finish: Round of 16 (2014)
Overall record: W3 D3 L7
FIFA world ranking: 28
OverviewAlgeria return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, carrying a familiar sense of optimism tempered by questions over consistency. The Desert Warriors were one of Africa’s most feared sides after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the years that followed brought more frustration than success, including the heartbreaking failure to qualify for Qatar 2022. Now, back on football’s bigge …
