World Cup
Riyad Mahrez at 100 caps: A century of brilliance for Algeria
Riyad Mahrez may have reached his 100th international cap this week during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the significance of the moment continues to echo across Algerian football.
The 33-year-old captain, who led Algeria to their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2019, became just the seventh player in the nation’s history to reach the century milestone when he started against Botswana in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday, 21 March, 2025.
It’s a moment that cements Mahrez’s legacy as one of Algeria’s most decorated and influential players, whose flair, leadership, and longevity have defined over a decade of international football.
From an unknown Ligue 2 winger at Le Havre to lifting trophies at Manchester City and wearing the armband for his country, Mahrez’s rise has been meteoric.
His milestone is more than just a personal achievement – it represents an era of transformation for Algerian football.
A humble beginning, a dazzling debut
Mahrez’s debut for Algeria came just weeks before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, during a friendly against Armenia.
Then an unproven attacker freshly signed by Leicester City, his inclusion raised eyebrows. But it didn’t take long for him to silence the doubters.
With two assists and an electric performance in a 3-1 win, Mahrez forced his way into the squad for Brazil 2014, playing against Belgium in Algeria’s tournament opener.
Though it would be his only appearance in that World Cup, it laid the foundation for what would follow.
First goal, first glory
Later that same year, Mahrez scored his first international goal against Malawi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. His combination of composure, dribbling and creative vision quickly made him a mainstay in the side.
But it was in 2019 that Mahrez truly etched his name into Algerian football history. Wearing the captain’s armband, he led a hungry Desert Warriors squad to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON final in Cairo.
His last-minute free-kick in the semi-final against Nigeria was one of the defining moments of the tournament – a moment of pure inspiration and technique.
Riyad Mahrez scored a fantastic free kick against Nigeria with the last shot of the game to take Algeria to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final.
He became only the second Algerian captain to lift the continental crown after Rabah Madjer in 1990. For many, that moment alone secured his legacy.
A leader on and off the pitch
Mahrez’s influence has never been just about numbers. Over the years, he’s become a symbol of pride for Algerians at home and in the diaspora.
His calm leadership, ability to inspire, and unwavering belief in the team have helped steady Algeria through transitions and expectations.
With 100 caps now to his name, Mahrez joins an elite group of African internationals who have shown durability and excellence at the highest level.
Still aiming for more
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers provide one final frontier for the veteran winger.
Algeria have not qualified for a World Cup since 2014, and Mahrez – now playing his club football in Saudi Arabia – remains determined to help them return to the global stage.
If successful, it would complete a remarkable full circle: from a raw debutant in Brazil to a battle-hardened leader at 35, leading his nation into another World Cup.
The journey of Riyad Mahrez is far from over – but 100 caps is a fitting marker for one of Africa’s modern greats.
-CAF
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With just a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the United States, concerns are mounting over the impact of extreme summer heat on players and fans.
According to experts interviewed by the BBC, FIFA may be forced to adjust match schedules drastically—possibly even staging the World Cup final as early as 9 a.m.—to mitigate the risks posed by soaring temperatures.
The warnings follow sweltering conditions witnessed during recent international and Club World Cup matches held in the U.S., where athletes and spectators alike were exposed to intense heat and humidity.
One of the leading voices raising the alarm is Professor Mike Tipton, an expert in thermal physiology at the University of Portsmouth. Speaking to BBC Sport, he emphasised the potential health risks of playing in extreme conditions and recommended that matches begin as early in the day as possible.
“From a thermo-physiological point of view, for health and performance reasons, I would look to start matches as early as possible,” Tipton stated, suggesting that even the final—traditionally held in the afternoon or evening—could be moved to a morning kickoff.
Tipton went further, noting that the ideal solution would be to host the tournament during a cooler time of year, as was done with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was shifted to November and December due to extreme heat.
However, with the 2026 tournament already locked in for June 11 to July 19, FIFA’s only remaining flexibility lies in scheduling match times.
The 2026 edition will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across multiple cities, some of which are known for intense summer heat.
Health experts are urging organisers to prioritise player safety and fan well-being, warning that failing to act could lead to performance issues, heat-related illnesses, or worse.
FIFA has yet to publicly comment on any proposed changes to match schedules, but as temperatures continue to rise, pressure is mounting for the governing body to take decisive action ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
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FIFA’s Global Football Development chief Arsene Wenger acknowledged that the quality of pitches hosting Club World Cup matches in the U.S. was not good enough, but insisted it would be better when the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup.
The pitches, often very dry and sprinkled with water during cooling breaks or at halftime, have been widely criticised, mainly by coaches and players of the European teams taking part.
“I’ve been personally on the pitch at Orlando,” former Arsenal manager Wenger said on Saturday. “It’s not at the level that the European clubs are used to because it’s not perfect, but that will be rectified for the World Cup next year.”
Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique raised the issue early in the expanded Club World Cup tournament.
“The ball bounces like a rabbit,” Luis Enrique said after his team’s opening 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
“Today, for example, the field used to be artificial turf, and now it’s natural grass laid over it, which means it has to be watered manually. It’s a big problem for the way we play.”
“FIFA really needs to take this seriously. Not just the stadium fields but also the training pitches. If we’re calling this the best club tournament in the world, it should have world‑class facilities. I can’t imagine an NBA game played on a court full of holes.”
-Reuters
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Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football’s governing body FIFA said on Wednesday.
Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre.
Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes.
During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March.
A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents.
But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying.
Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco.
Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place.
The group winner qualifies for next year’s World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups.
FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years.
Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup.
-Reuters
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