Algeria and the FIFA World Cup: between political legitimization and regional rivalry

Algeria’s history with the FIFA World Cup can be divided into two main periods. The first stretches from independence in 1962 to the early 1990s, which saw Algeria qualifying twice in 1982 and 1986. In the 1990s, Algeria experienced a quasi-civil war and most of its energy was spent on restoring peace and stability. However, from the turn of this century, Algeria starts to envision a different future which is reflected in the move away from socialism to market economy. This coincides with the second period which runs from 2000 until today in Algeria’s football legacy. Algeria had to wait 24 years to qualify for the 2010 World Cup as the only Arab country, which was followed by the historical qualification to round of 16 in 2014. Football has been used as a legitimizing tool by the state as well as a marker to position Algeria as a footballing nation within Africa. Through an analysis of first, the significance of football to Algeria’s politics and identity, and second, the rivalry with Egypt, this essay intends to highlight the geopolitical significance of football in North Africa and its ramifications within Algerian diaspora in France.