Algeria have hired former Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic to lead their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Petkovic, who helped Switzerland eliminate France at the last European Championship, will arrive in Algiers this weekend and hold a news conference on Monday, the Algerian Football Federation announced.
Petkovic’s seven-year tenure with Switzerland ended after the team lost to Spain in a penalty shootout at the Euro 2020 quarterfinals.
He later coached French club Bordeaux but was fired during his first season in February 2022.
The 60-year-old Bosnian-born coach takes over from Djamel Belmadi, who resigned in January after Algeria failed to progress from the Africa Cup of Nations group stage.
Algeria won the African championship in 2019 but have not qualified for the past two World Cups.
Under Petkovic’s guidance, Switzerland reached the 2018 World Cup and drew with Brazil and beat Serbia in the group stage before losing to Sweden in the round of 16.
Algeria currently leads a six-team qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup after winning its first two games. The group winner will qualify to play in North America.
Petkovic’s first games in charge will be friendlies against Bolivia on March 22 and South Africa on March 26, followed by qualifying matches against Guinea and Uganda in June.