Algeria's coach is close to finalizing  the World Cup list.. Mandy to lead the national team

Switzerland's Vladimir Petkovic, the coach of the Algerian national football team, has begun  finalizing the list for the 2026 World Cup.

According to informed sources, the coach has decided his options by a large percentage in the list of 26 players, as there is only a trade-off between two goalkeepers to make up for the ambiguity surrounding the two goalkeepers Anthony Mandria and Melvin Mastille due to injury.

Decisive decision: Mandy as the leader of the "Warriors"

In a move described as "bold", Petkovic settled on the promotion of veteran defender Issa Mandy to be the team's first captain during the World Cup, surpassing the historic captain Riyad Mahrez.

This decision is based on the consistent levels of the Lille defender, as well as his "true leadership qualities" and ability to accommodate and facilitate the integration of new players, making him the ideal role model for the younger generation.

Implications of Mahrez's removal from leadership

According to specialized media, Mandy's promotion opens the door to speculation about Riyad Mahrez's future in the starting line-up, as observers believe that Pijkovic may be inclined to keep Mahrez on the bench in light of his recent fluctuations, with a desire to give the opportunity to emerging talents such as Anis Hadj Moussa.

Petkovic considers Mandy's pivotal role to be "marginalized by the media" despite being the exceptional pillar of the team's current successes.

Mandy. The most visible warrior brigadier general

The 34-year-old has a long history that makes him fit for the job, as he is one of the few (besides Mahrez and Bentaleb) to have participated in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Mandy also made history as the most representative player for the Algerian national team with 116 international matches, during which he scored 7 goals, which gives him a huge technical and moral weight on the field.

Fixture schedule: Early summit against defending champions

The Algerian national team awaits an arduous and exciting journey in Group X of the 2026 World Cup, as it begins its journey with a heavy-caliber match against the Argentine team (the defending champion) on June 17 in Kansas City, followed by an "Arab-Arab" match against Jordan on June 23 in San Francisco, to conclude the group stage by meeting Austria on June 28, in real tests of the success of Petkovic's new artistic vision.