The Algeria national football team formed in 1962. The team joined FIFA the following year and affiliated to the Confederation of African Football in 1964. The team had played games unofficially before independence in 1962.
World cup history
1982
Spain
Algeria first qualified for a world cup in time for the 1982 tournament. Their first game at the finals went down in history as they shocked the reigning European champions West Germany with a 2-1 win. The last match of the group stage was also memorable, but not for such positive reasons. Algeria had played their last game the day before, and the final match saw West Germany play Austria. A close win for the Germans would qualify both teams and they duly obliged, scoring after 10 minutes. The rest of the match played out with little attacking intent from either side. The style of the game angered Algerians, neutrals and even some supporters. Algeria were eliminated but FIFA changed the rules at the next world cup so all final group games are now played at the same time.
1986
Mexico
The team qualified for the next world cup, Mexico 1986. The team drew a tough group of Brazil, Northern Ireland and Spain. The team scored just one goal (a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland) and lost to Brazil and Spain. The team again failed to progress beyond the group stage. Four years later the team won the African Cup of Nations.
2010
South Africa
In qualifying for the 2010 world cup, Algeria forged a fierce rivalry with Egypt. The teams finished their group tied on points, goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head results. Algeria won a play-off match 1-0 to advance to the finals. The team did not enjoy a successful world cup, again only gaining one point. The tournament produced zero Algerian goals but the team kept a clean sheet against England and only lost 1-0 to Slovenia and the United States.
2014
Brazil
Held in Brazil the world cup was won by Germany who became the first European side to win the tournament in South America. The 2014 world cup was a landmark tournament for the Algeria national football team. After an opening game defeat to Belgium, the side rallied to defeat South Korea 4-2. Knowing a draw would be enough to see them progress for the first time in their history the side hung on for a 1-1 with Russia.
The side came up against eventual champions Germany in the last 16, and pushed them as far as anyone else in the competition would. 0-0 after 90 minutes the Germans eventually came through 2-1 in extra-time.
2018
Russia
The Algeria national football team entered world cup qualifying in the second round where they were drawn alongside Tanzania. A 2-2 draw in the first leg may have had the side worried, but a more than comfortable 7-0 victory in he second progressed the side 9-2 on aggregate.
In the third round they will be drawn in one of five groups alongside three other teams, with only the winner progressing to the world cup.