Riyad Mahrez Retires from Algeria After World Cup Exit to Switzerland
Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez has confirmed his retirement from international football following the Desert Warriors’ 2‑0 loss to Switzerland in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 35‑year‑old stated that the match in Vancouver marked his final appearance for Algeria, bringing an end to more than ten years of service in the national colours.
“We wanted to advance and I believed we could have won,” Mahrez said after the game. “But we conceded twice through mistakes, and at this level you cannot afford such errors. There are positives – we did make it out of the group – but we conceded too many goals to push further. This was my last match with Algeria.”
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano also confirmed the decision, noting that Mahrez recorded 85 goal involvements in 119 appearances for the Desert Warriors.
Mahrez leaves the national team as one of Algeria’s greatest ever players. He was instrumental in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, famously scoring a stoppage‑time free‑kick against Nigeria in the semi‑final before lifting the trophy.
Switzerland took control through defensive lapses, with Breel Embolo opening the scoring before Dan Ndoye doubled the lead early in the second half, securing a place in the last 16.
Mahrez had scored twice in Algeria’s exciting 3‑3 draw with Austria, a result that helped the side qualify from the group stage. He was substituted in the 71st minute against Switzerland, a substitution that turned out to be his final cap for the North African nation.
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