Algeria Set for 2026 World Cup Tune-Up Clash with Iran

Algeria could soon test their World Cup readiness in an international friendly against Iran.

Reports from Tehran suggest that talks between the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and its Iranian counterpart (IRIFF) have advanced significantly, with both sides eager to finalize a friendly international for March 2026.

The match, if confirmed, will serve as a critical rehearsal for both nations ahead of the decisive stretch of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

While the venue is yet to be finalized, sources indicate that a neutral ground, likely in the Middle East or Europe, is being considered to accommodate players plying their trade across the globe.

If the plans materialize, it will be the first meeting between the two sides since their last friendly encounter in 2022 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, where Algeria triumphed 2-1.

On that occasion, Riad Benayad opened the scoring before Iran’s captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh equalized, only for Mohamed Amoura to snatch a late winner.

Both nations are eyeing long-term progress, with the expanded 48-team World Cup offering a bigger stage and new possibilities.

The official draw for the 2026 tournament will be held on December 5 in Washington, D.C.