Lionel Scaloni’s Surprising Remarks on Algeria

This Friday evening, the teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup have been determined. The draw took place in Washington, presenting a challenging group for France, which includes Senegal, Norway, and the playoff winner from Path 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq). Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Argentina, have a more favorable group.

Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Coach Lionel Scaloni is familiar with the Algerian team, which is returning to the World Cup after a 12-year absence. “I know the Algerian coach; he was my coach (Vladimir Petkovic). I was with him just before the draw. He coached me at Lazio; he is a great coach. It’s a strong team with talented players, a remarkable pool of talent that feeds into the French team and other national teams.”