Petkovic Faces Former Side Switzerland in World Cup Round of 32 Clash
The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 will feature a compelling narrative on Thursday as Algeria, led by coach Vladimir Petkovic, takes on Switzerland, the team Petkovic managed for seven years. The match is set for an 11 p.m. ET kickoff in Vancouver.
Algeria secured their spot in the knockout stages with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Austria, highlighted by Riyad Mahrez’s equalizer in the 90+3 minute. They also notched a 2-1 victory over Jordan after an initial loss to Argentina. Switzerland enters the Round of 32 having topped Group B, with wins over Bosnia (4-1) and Canada (2-1), alongside a 1-1 draw with Qatar.
For Algeria, Petkovic has made some adjustments to his starting XI from their previous outing against Austria. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane returns between the posts, replacing Oussama Benbot. Rayan Aït-Nouri is also back in the lineup, taking the place of Jaouen Hadjam, while Ramiz Zerrouki is introduced to bolster the midfield. The full starting lineup includes Zidane, Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Aït-Nouri, Zerrouki, Ibrahim Maza, Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, captain Riyad Mahrez, and Farès Chaïbi.
Breel Embolo, a prominent Swiss player, acknowledged Petkovic’s familiarity with many of the current Swiss players, including himself. However, Embolo emphasized his intention to play his usual game, focusing on both Algeria’s strengths and weaknesses. Switzerland’s current coach, Murat Yakin, who once interned for Petkovic, also recognized the potential advantages and disadvantages of facing a former coach, noting that Switzerland’s playing style has evolved over the five years since Petkovic departed.
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