Vladimir Petković will remain Algeria coach until the 2026 World Cup after the FA’s decision not to sack him.
After weeks of internal pressure, Algeria FA sporting director Ali Mouser has decided to keep Vladimir Petković as head coach of the national team. The call was based on a deep technical analysis that weighed the team’s African Nations Cup run and its secured 2026 World Cup berth. Algeria’s last outing ended in a 2-0 loss to Switzerland on 3 July 2026, leaving the side in a fragile run-up to the tournament.
Why Jamal Belmadi weighed in on the call
Jamal Belmadi hasn’t stayed silent. He has repeatedly used Algeria’s early exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations-without a single win-to question Petković’s work. After the shock group-stage exit, some FA officials, led by president Walid Sadi, began comparing Belmadi’s past record with Petković’s. Those comparisons were part of a deliberate push to boost the Serb’s stock, Algerian news agency APS reported.
What data did Mouser rely on?
Mouser spelled out three pillars: results, statistical performance, and technical analysis. Petković’s side reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after Algeria missed the 2022 World Cup. “We relied on statistical data, performance indicators, and in-depth technical analysis to evaluate the results achieved and track the progress recorded,” Mouser said. He added that future challenges were clearly identified, justifying the decision not to sack the coach.
What’s next after the stay decision?
Petković now has a clear mandate to lead Algeria through to the 2026 World Cup, but the road is steep. The Greens have lost their last two games-1-0 to Senegal in June 2026 and 2-0 to Switzerland on 3 July 2026. Still, Mouser insists the team can turn things around before the tournament. Eleven months remain until the World Cup kick-off, and Algeria need a run of positive results to lift fan morale.
