French football legend Zinedine Zidane’s son, Luca Zidane, has officially switched his international allegiance to Algeria, making him eligible to represent the North African nation at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA approved the 27-year-old goalkeeper’s request after his earlier youth-level appearances for France. Luca, who currently plays for Spanish second-division side Granada, brings both top-level experience and fresh hope to Algeria’s goalkeeping department.

In recent years, Algeria has rotated between several goalkeepers — Alexis Guendouz, Oussama Benbot, Anthony Mandrea, and Alexandre Oukidja — but none have secured the starting role. Luca Zidane’s arrival could provide the stability the team has been missing.

A graduate of the Real Madrid academy, Luca is the second of four Zidane brothers who all came through the club’s youth system. He made his senior debut for Madrid before playing in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano, and later enjoyed spells with Eibar and now Granada.

Though he represented France at youth levels, his switch was possible because of his Algerian heritage — his grandparents, parents of Zinedine Zidane, hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Algeria remains one of Africa’s strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup in North America, with a crucial qualifier against Somalia ahead.

The move has also drawn attention because of his father, Zinedine Zidane, who won the 1998 World Cup with France and remains one of football’s greatest icons. Zidane’s own career ended memorably with a red card in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.