Algeria Part Ways with Petkovic After World Cup Campaign
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has ended its association with head coach Vladimir Petkovic by mutual consent, bringing to a close the Bosnian’s two-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Desert Foxes despite recently extending his contract until 2028.
The decision follows Algeria’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the North Africans progressed beyond the group stage for only the second time in their history before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the Round of 32. The federation confirmed in a statement that both parties had agreed to terminate the contract with immediate effect.
Petkovic, 62, was appointed in February 2024 following the departure of Djamel Belmadi and was tasked with rebuilding a side that had missed the previous two World Cups. During his tenure, he oversaw a notable turnaround, restoring Algeria’s competitiveness on the continental and global stage.
His biggest achievement came when he guided Algeria to qualification for the expanded 2026 World Cup, ending a 12-year absence from football’s biggest tournament. He also steered the Desert Foxes to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the team recover from successive group-stage exits in the previous two editions.
At the World Cup, Algeria collected four points in Group J, including a dramatic 3-3 draw with Austria, to advance as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Their campaign ended in Vancouver, where Switzerland capitalised on defensive errors to secure a 2-0 victory and eliminate the North Africans from the competition.
Petkovic leaves with an impressive record of 23 wins, five draws and five defeats in 33 matches across all competitions. Although his contract had been renewed shortly before the World Cup, the federation opted for a change after the team’s exit.
Algeria now enters a new chapter ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September. The Desert Foxes have been drawn in Group I alongside Zambia, Togo and Burundi. Meanwhile, veteran captain Riyad Mahrez has announced his retirement from international football, ending a distinguished Algeria career in which he made 119 appearances and scored 40 goals.
