World Cup 2026: Algeria's unfortunate streak continues

Defeated by Switzerland, Algeria extends a statistic that has lasted 44 years: still no victory against a European nation at the World Cup since 1982.

June 16, 1982, will forever be etched in Algerian football history. On that day in Gijón, the Fennecs pulled off one of the World Cup's greatest upsets, toppling West Germany (2-1) and becoming the first African side to defeat a major European nation at the tournament. But that famous win remains, to this day, a solitary achievement.

See also: World Cup 2026: Algeria eliminated, Switzerland continues its run (2-0)

Since that historic triumph, Algeria has played ten matches at the World Cup against European teams—without a single win:

• Algeria 0-2 Austria (1982)
• Algeria 1-1 Northern Ireland (1986)
• Algeria 0-3 Spain (1986)
• Algeria 0-1 Slovenia (2010)
• Algeria 0-0 England (2010)
• Algeria 1-2 Belgium (2014)
• Algeria 1-1 Russia (2014)
• Algeria 1-2 Germany after extra time (2014)
• Algeria 3-3 Austria (2026)
• Algeria 0-2 Switzerland (2026)

So this 2026 World Cup did not allow the Greens to put an end to their long drought. After a thrilling draw against Austria (3-3), which secured qualification for the round of 32, Algeria fell to Switzerland (2-0). The tally now stands at four draws and six defeats against European opposition since the legendary feat in Gijón—a run that now stretches over forty-four years.