ALGIERS – Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, has received his first call-up to the Algeria national team ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper, born in Aix-en-Provence, France, previously represented France at youth level but recently switched his international allegiance to Algeria, his grandparents’ homeland in the Kabylie region.

Zidane is one of three goalkeepers named by coach Vladimir Petkovic in the 26-man squad for the October fixtures.

Currently playing for Granada in Spain’s second division, Zidane came through the Real Madrid academy alongside his brothers. He featured twice for Madrid’s senior team, later earning La Liga experience with Rayo Vallecano before moving to Eibar in 2022 and Granada in 2024.

His father, Zinedine Zidane, remains one of the most iconic players in football history, having inspired France to their 1998 World Cup triumph and played in the 2006 final, remembered for his infamous headbutt against Marco Materazzi.

Algeria lead Group G of African qualifying and are just one win away from securing their place at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

[Source: BBC News]