Mahrez: We are looking for a historic achievement… and it is time to pass the baton

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has confirmed that his participation at the 2026 World Cup will be the last of his World Cup career, signaling that it is time to hand over the baton to a new generation fully focused on helping the Greens achieve historic success at the current tournament.

Mahrez said during his broadcast statements Official FIFA website Before facing Switzerland in the 32nd round. “Maybe it’s time for me to pass the torch and stand up. This will be the last World Cup I play, that’s for sure.”

The Algerian captain explained that the first goal the team had set before the start of the tournament had already been achieved after they managed to bypass the group stage and qualify for the knockout stages, but he stressed that the ambitions did not stop there.

He added: “Our goal was to pass the first round and we achieved it. Our country has never won the qualifying rounds of the World Cup.”

Mahrez emphasized that the “green” players are aware of the great responsibility placed on their shoulders, and that the opportunity has come to write a new chapter in the history of Algerian football by winning the first victory in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup.

The captain of the Algerian national team concluded his statements with an enthusiastic message, saying: “Now we have to make it happen, for ourselves, for our families and for our country. This is the most important thing.”

Algeria are set to face Switzerland at dawn on Friday in the 32nd round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Greens fans hoping to go on and achieve the most unprecedented achievement in Algeria’s World Cup history, in what will be Mahrez’s last star-studded appearance.