Preview: Algeria vs Guatemala – prediction, team news, lineups

Algeria is set to continue its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by facing Guatemala in an international friendly this Friday at the Stade Luigi Ferraris in Genoa.

The Greens are scheduled for one additional friendly against Uruguay before the World Cup, while for Guatemala, this match serves as their final fixture for some time, with the Chapines aiming to conclude their international break positively.

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Match Overview

Placed in CAF Group G, Algeria comfortably secured their World Cup berth, amassing 25 points from 10 matches—a seven-point lead over both Uganda and Mozambique.

The Desert Warriors commenced their journey with a 3-1 win over Somalia and experienced only one defeat throughout the two-year qualification period, showcasing their consistent performance on their way to qualifying for the tournament in the USA.

They achieved eight victories and a draw during the qualifiers, with their sole setback being a narrow 1-0 loss to Guinea, which underscored their overall dominance.

Algeria also performed commendably in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, winning all three matches, though a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria ended their participation in the knockout stage.

Vladimir Petkovic’s squad has scored first in seven of their last eight games and will be eager to utilize these friendlies to fine-tune their strategies for the main competition.

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Guatemala, conversely, had a challenging World Cup qualifying campaign and ultimately failed to advance to the tournament.

Luis Fernando Tena’s team finished second behind Jamaica in the second round to progress, but ultimately placed third in the final stage, trailing Panama by four points.

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The Mayans had a slow beginning, experiencing a 1-0 loss to El Salvador before conceding further points against Panama and Suriname.

They attempted to revive their campaign with a strong finish, securing victories over El Salvador and Suriname, but a 3-2 defeat to Panama ultimately crushed their qualification aspirations.

While this friendly holds minimal competitive importance for Guatemala, they remain keen to deliver a strong performance and demonstrate their capability to compete with higher-ranked opponents.

Algeria’s recent form (all competitions):

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Guatemala’s recent form (all competitions):

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Team News

Petkovic has included six new faces in his 27-man roster for these World Cup warm-up matches, including two new goalkeepers.

Kilian Belazzoug and Melvin Mastil are among the recent call-ups, while approximately 11 players from the previous Africa Cup of Nations squad have been omitted for various reasons.

Ismael Bennacer is sidelined with a knee injury, and Ilan Kebbal (thigh), Jaouen Hadjam (ankle), and Samir Sophian Chergui (thigh) are also unavailable.

Fernando Tena, on the other hand, reports no major injury concerns, with defender Aaron Herrera being the only confirmed absentee due to a leg injury.

Kenderson Navarro performed well in the narrow 1-0 defeat to Canada in the previous friendly and might retain his starting position over Nicholas Hagen.

Algeria probable starting lineup:

Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Nouri; Boudaoui, Zerrouki; Mahrez, Maza, Chaibi; Amoura

Guatemala probable starting lineup:

Navarro; Morales, Samayoa, Pinto, Ardon; Munoz, Franco, Castellanos; Avila Jr, Lom, Santis 

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Our Prediction: Algeria 2-0 Guatemala

Algeria will be aiming to build momentum leading up to the World Cup and is anticipated to approach this match with full concentration against a Guatemala squad that has failed to keep a clean sheet in its last three games.

The Greens have found the net in seven of their last eight fixtures, and considering their offensive talent, they should be looking to score more than just one goal in this encounter.

For a detailed data analysis of the most probable outcomes, scorelines, and more for this match, please click here.

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