From Signing Pivotal Partnerships with Argentina and Spain to Scheduling Elite Friendlies: FAF Embarks on a Global Reintegration Strategy for Algeria’s National Team

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

President Walid Sadi’s Strategic Breakthrough at the FIFA Congress: A Bold New Era for Algerian Football on the Global Stage

Algiers, Algeria | May 18th, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic and sporting breakthrough, Walid Sadi, President of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), emerged as a key figure during the 75th FIFA Congress held in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, on Thursday. This global football summit, which coincided with the centennial celebration of Paraguay’s FIFA membership, became a strategic platform for Algeria to reassert its presence in international football. President Sadi’s participation was not only productive but historic, characterized by high-profile meetings, strategic agreements, and forward-thinking discussions that signal a new chapter for Algerian football.

Reviving Algeria’s Global Football Presence

At the heart of Sadi’s mission in Paraguay was the commitment to elevate Algerian football onto the international map through comprehensive structural reforms and cross-border partnerships. His approach was clear and multifaceted: reinforce institutional ties, expand technical cooperation, modernize training systems, and expose the national team to world-class opponents ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

President Sadi’s efforts are part of FAF’s new global openness policy, which is being implemented through targeted collaborations and knowledge exchanges with top-tier football federations. The goal is to leverage international experience in youth development, women’s football, futsal, and technical innovation.

A Marathon of Diplomatic Football Engagements

In Asunción, Walid Sadi held pivotal talks with influential football leaders, including:

• Luciano Nakis, Executive Director of the Argentine Football Association (AFA),

• Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF),

• Rafael Lozano Abad, President of the Spanish Football Federation,

• Simon Åström, President of the Swedish Football Association,

• Hany Abou Rida, President of the Egyptian FA and CAF & FIFA Executive Committee Member,

• As well as numerous other African FA presidents.

These meetings culminated in concrete partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), particularly with global football powerhouses such as Argentina (reigning World Champion) and Spain (UEFA Euro 2024 Champion).

Sadi’s strategic engagements underscore a major diplomatic offensive designed to strengthen Algeria’s standing within FIFA and CAF circles, modernize its football institutions, and build bridges with high-performing federations across Latin America and Europe.

FAF Secures Twin Strategic Alliances: Argentina & Spain

One of the most remarkable achievements of Sadi’s participation was the official signing of two bilateral cooperation agreements with Argentina and Spain—countries at the pinnacle of world football.

In his meeting with Luciano Nakis, President Sadi formalized a partnership agreement with the Argentine FA, opening doors to collaborative projects in youth development, training programs, technical expertise, and elite match preparation. This partnership is not only symbolic due to Argentina’s status as 2022 World Cup champions, but also strategic for Algeria’s technical aspirations.

In a parallel development, Sadi met with Rafael Lozano Abad, head of the Spanish Football Federation, where they sealed a cooperation pact that will prioritize youth competitions (both male and female categories), futsal development, and the coordination of a high-caliber friendly between Algeria and Spain. This prospective clash, set for early 2026, is envisioned as a core part of Algeria’s preparation for the World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

World-Class Friendlies on the Horizon

FAF officially announced on Friday that it has initiated the planning of a friendly match against Spain, to be held in 2026, prior to the World Cup. The match is being positioned as a “true test” for Algeria’s national team—the Desert Warriors—under coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose team currently tops Group G of the African World Cup qualifiers with 15 points, three ahead of Mozambique.

Moreover, the Federation is working behind the scenes to schedule a second friendly against Argentina, capitalizing on the newly signed MoU. While no date has been fixed, the match—should it materialize—would be only the second encounter between Algeria and the Albiceleste. The first and only match dates back to 2007 in Barcelona, a thrilling 4-3 win for Argentina, with a young Lionel Messi featuring in the squad. Algerian fans, hungry for high-profile clashes, are hopeful this will finally be realized on home or neutral soil.

Algeria vs. Sweden Confirmed for June 10, 2025

Adding to the calendar of elite preparation, the FAF has also confirmed a friendly against Sweden, set for June 10, 2025, in Stockholm. The encounter, scheduled during the international break, will serve as a serious preparatory test for the Desert Warriors ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations and the final rounds of World Cup qualifiers.

This decision was the result of another high-level meeting between President Sadi and his Swedish counterpart Simon Åström, on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress. Discussions included finalizing logistical arrangements for the match, as well as deeper bilateral cooperation in technical development, youth scouting, and talent cultivation.

Strategic Vision and Technical Development at the Core

All of these moves reflect President Sadi’s determination to adopt a pragmatic and globally conscious roadmap for Algerian football. His leadership seeks not only qualification for the World Cup, but long-term competitiveness through reform, international exposure, and modernization.

Under his tenure, the FAF is entering a new era of diplomacy-driven football development, characterized by openness, partnerships with world-class federations, and targeted strategies to elevate the quality of Algeria’s footballing infrastructure—from the grassroots to elite competition.

These steps are more than symbolic. They represent a deep-seated vision to transform Algerian football from a regional powerhouse into a globally competitive force, fueled by systematic collaboration, smart preparation, and high-profile competition.

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