The Zidane name is heading back to the FIFA World Cup, but not in the colours many football fans might expect. Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, has been included in Algeria’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after head coach Vladimir Petković named his final roster for the tournament. The 28-year-old goalkeeper currently plays for Granada CF and will be part of an Algeria side returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. While his famous father won the World Cup with France in 1998 and remains one of the most iconic figures in French football history, Luca will represent Algeria in North America after officially switching his international allegiance in 2025.
Why Luca Zidane can play for Algeria
Luca Zidane’s international journey differs significantly from that of his father. Born in France, the goalkeeper represented France at various youth levels earlier in his career. However, because he never played a competitive senior international match for France, FIFA regulations allowed him to change sporting nationality and represent another eligible nation. His eligibility stems from his family’s Algerian roots. Zinedine Zidane’s parents emigrated to France from the Kabylia region of Algeria in 1953, giving Luca eligibility for Algerian citizenship and allowing him to represent Les Fennecs at international level. After FIFA approved the switch in September 2025, Luca joined Algeria’s national team setup and has since earned six senior caps. He also featured at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, where Algeria’s campaign ended with a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria in a match that was remembered for a mass altercation involving several players. Luca has previously explained that family heritage played a major role in the decision, with reports stating that he wanted to honour his Algerian roots and fulfil a wish encouraged by his grandfather.
The path his father never took
Interestingly, Zinedine Zidane himself never represented Algeria despite being eligible to do so. The former France captain spent his entire senior international career with France after making his debut in 1994. He famously led Les Bleus to the 1998 FIFA World Cup title on home soil before helping them win Euro 2000, cementing his place among football’s greatest players. Over the years, a long-running football myth claimed that former Algeria coach Abdelhamid Kermali rejected a young Zidane because he was supposedly “not fast enough.” Zidane has repeatedly denied that story, insisting he was never rejected by Algeria and that France was always his sporting home because it was the country where he was born and raised. Now, nearly three decades after Zidane first appeared on the international stage for France, his son will take the family name to the World Cup through a different route.
Luca Zidane joins experienced Algeria squad
Petković’s final squad contains a blend of established stars and returning internationals. Captain Riyad Mahrez remains the headline name in attack, while record appearance-holder Aïssa Mandi and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb add experience throughout the squad. Petković has also welcomed back attacking duo Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri after both missed the Africa Cup of Nations through injury. Luca’s inclusion is particularly notable given that he suffered a broken chin and jaw while playing for Granada in April. Despite that setback, he recovered in time to retain his place in the national team setup. Since making his Algeria debut last October, he has become part of a goalkeeping group that also includes Oussama Benbot and Melvin Mastil. At club level, Luca made 26 appearances in Spain’s Segunda División this season, keeping eight clean sheets. Since joining Granada from SD Eibar in 2024, he has played 45 matches for the club.
Algeria’s World Cup challenge
Algeria qualified impressively for the expanded 48-team tournament, winning eight of their 10 CAF qualifying matches and finishing seven points clear of Uganda at the top of their group. The North Africans, who compete under CAF because Algeria is geographically located in North Africa and is a longstanding member of African football’s governing body, will be making their fifth World Cup appearance and their first since reaching the Round of 16 at Brazil 2014 before losing to eventual champions Germany. Petković’s side have been drawn in Group J alongside defending champions Argentina national football team, Austria and Jordan. Algeria begin their campaign against Argentina in Kansas City on June 17 after warm-up matches against the Netherlands and Bolivia. For the first time in World Cup history, the Zidane name will be present in an Algeria squad. While Zinedine built his legacy wearing France’s famous blue shirt, Luca’s World Cup story will unfold in Algeria’s colours.
