Not France, Zidane's son set to join an unexpected national team at the World Cup

Rather than playing for France as anticipated, Luca Zidane, the son of icon Zinedine Zidane, has opted for Algeria and faces a significant opportunity to compete in the 2026 World Cup on his debut with the national team.

Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, has just been officially called up to the Algeria national team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This marks Luca’s first chance to wear a senior national team jersey after several years struggling within European clubs.

Born in Marseille, France in 1998, Luca previously played for France’s youth teams but was unable to break into the senior national squad. Nevertheless, he retained the option to represent Algeria thanks to his father’s heritage. Two weeks ago, FIFA officially approved his switch of sporting nationality from France to Algeria. Immediately, coach Vladimir Petkovic included him in the 26-man squad preparing for matches against Somalia and Uganda.

Algeria currently leads their qualifying group, four points ahead of the second place team, needing only one more victory to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. In this favorable context, Luca faces a historic opportunity: to debut for Algeria and possibly help the team reach football’s biggest stage.

Luca’s career has been closely tied to Real Madrid since childhood. He made his first-team debut in 2017 when his father Zinedine Zidane was still the head coach. The goalkeeper was part of the squad that won the Champions League that year before moving on to Racing Santander, Rayo Vallecano, and currently Granada in Spain’s second division.

While Luca prepares to debut for Algeria, coach Zinedine Zidane is also in the spotlight amid rumors he might replace Didier Deschamps as France’s manager after the 2026 World Cup. Zidane has not returned to coaching since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.

Luca Zidane’s decision to represent Algeria instead of patiently waiting for a chance with France is seen as a pivotal moment. With experience honed in La Liga and the legacy of the “Zidane bloodline,” the 27-year-old goalkeeper could become a new pillar for the “Desert Foxes” on their path to the 2026 World Cup.