The Pressure Shows Up Early
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vladimir Petkovic has committed to Algeria through July 2028, the country's soccer federation announced Sunday, hours before the Desert Foxes left for the United States and their first World Cup in years.
The extension landed four days after Algeria upset the Netherlands 1-0 in Rotterdam — a result that quietly announced the team had arrived ahead of schedule.
Petkovic, 62, took over in February 2024 after Algeria missed two straight World Cups. A former Switzerland manager who briefly tried French club Bordeaux, he found something in the North African side that had eluded their previous coaches. The federation responded by locking him down before anyone else could ask.
The Detail That Tilts It
His technical staff — assistant Davide Morandi, goalkeeping coach Guido Nanni and trainer Paolo Rongoni — also signed through July 2028.
Algeria opens against defending champion Argentina on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium. They face Jordan on June 22 in Santa Clara, California, and close group play against Austria on June 27 at the same Kansas City venue.
The team set up at the University of Kansas in Lawrence for the tournament, practicing Sunday at the Sidi Moussa National Technical Center near Algiers before departing.