Luca Zidane, son of football legend, earns Algeria call-up amid World Cup qualifying campaign

by October 2, 2025

Luca Zidane’s Call-Up to Algeria

Luca Zidane, the son of legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane, has received his first call-up to represent Algeria. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment as the Algerian national team is on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across North America.

Background and Eligibility

Now 27 years old, the goalkeeper previously donned the French national colors at various youth levels but has yet to make an appearance for France’s senior team. His eligibility to play for Algeria stems from his father’s ancestral roots in the country. Recently, FIFA confirmed Luca’s switch in national allegiance after an application that had been submitted two weeks earlier.

Luca previously played for Real Madrid during his father’s tenure as the club’s head coach and is currently signed to Granada, a team competing in Spain’s second division.

Upcoming Matches and World Cup Aspirations

Algeria’s head coach, Vladimir Petkovic, has included Luca in a squad consisting of 26 players for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Somalia, scheduled for October 9, and Uganda, set five days later. With Algeria leading their qualifying group by a margin of four points, securing a victory in either match would guarantee their participation in the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Algeria’s World Cup History

The Algerian national team has a rich World Cup history, having qualified four times and making it to the knockout stages in their last appearance in 2014. Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane, celebrated as one of football’s greatest players, represented France in three World Cups, famously lifting the trophy in 1998 on home soil, and narrowly missing out on victory in 2006, where he infamously received a red card during the final match against Italy, marking the end of his illustrious playing career.