Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic will come up against his former team tonight when they face Switzerland in Vancouver.
Petkovic led the Swiss between 2014 and 2021 but must now plot their downfall as boss of the Fennec Foxes.
Switzerland advanced to the round of 32 by topping Group B while Algeria qualified as one of the best third-placed finishers.
Where to watch Switzerland v Algeria: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 04:00 BST (23:00 ET / 20:00 PT, both Thursday). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Switzerland v Algeria stats
- Switzerland have qualified from the group stage for a fourth straight World Cup tournament but finished top of their group for just the second time, previously doing so in 2006
- Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas are the first Switzerland teammates to both score in back-to-back World Cup games since 1954, when Robert Ballamann and Josef Hugi both did so (vs Italy and Austria)
- Before the start of Wednesday’s action, only Norway (0.19), Argentina (0.17) and Brazil (0.16) had a higher expected goals average per attempt than Switzerland (0.14)
- Argentina (also 2) are the only side apart from Switzerland to have been awarded more than one penalties at the 2026 finals
- Senegal (4) are the only team to have scored more goals through substitutes than Switzerland (3, alongside Germany and Canada)
- Algeria have advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the second time, also going through with four points in 2014
- They became the ninth African team to advance to the knockout round of this World Cup of the 10 entrants from the continent (90%)
- Before 2026, Africa had never had more than half of its teams at a World Cup advance from the group stage
- Against Austria, Rafik Belghali (24 years, 20 days of age) became the youngest player to score for Algeria at the World Cup since their first such match in 1982, when Rabah Madjer (23y 183d) and Lakdhar Belloumi (23y 169d) netted against West Germany.
- Riyad Mahrez scored his first and second World Cup goals at 35 years old against Austria, making the winger the first Algeria player to score a goal at the finals aged over 31
