Luca Zidane Cleared to Represent Algeria in International Football
ALGIERS — FIFA has officially granted Granada goalkeeper Luca Zinedine Zidane permission to play for Algeria, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) confirmed on Friday.
The decision, recorded on FIFA’s change of association platform, allows Zidane to switch allegiance from France, where he represented the national team at youth levels, to Algeria — the homeland of his paternal grandparents.
Currently playing in Spain’s second division with Granada, Zidane never broke into France’s senior squad, leaving the door open for him to join Algeria.
The 26-year-old, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane, came through Real Madrid’s academy, featuring for the club’s reserve team before making his senior debut in the 2017-2018 season. He was part of the squad when Real Madrid lifted their 13th Champions League title in 2018.
Algeria, already qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, is also on the verge of booking a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They top Group G of the qualifiers with 19 points and need only a win against Somalia or a draw with Uganda next month to seal their spot.
Zinedine Zidane, though born in Marseille, hails from Bejaia in northern Algeria, a connection his son will now represent on the international stage.
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