Riyad Mahrez will start from the bench for Algeria's highly anticipated World Cup opener against Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.

What happened?

Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic has opted for a fresh blueprint to counter the reigning world champions, dropping Mahrez from the starting lineup.

Why the change?

The decision comes as a surprise, given that Mahrez started in Algeria's pre-tournament tune-ups, including a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands and a dominant 4-0 dismantling of Bolivia.

Anis Hadj Moussa will get the nod to attack Argentina's left flank, replacing Mahrez in a dynamic, high-energy front three alongside forwards Ibrahim Maza and Amine Gouiri.

The new lineup

Moussa was the hero who delivered the dramatic, late game-winner to sink the Netherlands and also found the back of the net in the blowout victory over Bolivia.

Algeria's confirmed lineup for the match is: Luca Zidane; Rafik Belghali, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Nabil Bentaleb, Hicham Boudaoui, Fares Chaibi; Ibrahim Maza, Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa.

What's next for Mahrez?

The benching of Mahrez is a massive tactical gamble by Petkovic, and it remains to be seen how the former Manchester City winger will respond to being dropped from the starting lineup.

The match against Argentina is set to be a highly anticipated clash, with Algeria looking to cause an upset against the reigning world champions.

Riyad Mahrez will be looking to make an impact from the bench, and his introduction could be a key factor in the outcome of the match.

The 2026 World Cup is set to be an exciting tournament, with many top teams and players competing for the ultimate prize.

Algeria's match against Argentina is just the beginning of their World Cup campaign, and they will be looking to make a strong start.

The team's performance will be closely watched, and the decision to bench Mahrez will be under scrutiny.

Only time will tell if the decision to drop Mahrez from the starting lineup will pay off for Algeria.

The match is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to make a statement at the 2026 World Cup.

The stage is set for an exciting match, and Riyad Mahrez will be looking to make his mark from the bench.