Luca Zidane plays for Algeria at the 2026 World Cup — and his father is France's next coach
Luca Zidane (born 2002, goalkeeper, Granada CF) — son of Zinedine Zidane — started in goal for Algeria at the 2026 World Cup wearing a protective mask after a fractured jaw. He officially switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria in September 2025, eligible via his paternal Algerian grandparents. Algeria were eliminated 2-0 by Switzerland (Embolo 10', Ndoye 46') in the Round of 32 on July 2/3, Vancouver. His father Zinedine Zidane has a confirmed agreement to become France's head coach from September 2026, succeeding Didier Deschamps. Sources: beIN Sports, ESPN, Goal.com.
The context
One of the 2026 World Cup’s most compelling human stories centres not on a goal-scorer or a major upset, but on a goalkeeper in a protective mask — and the weight of a famous surname.
Luca Zidane, born in 2002, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, started in goal for Algeria at the 2026 World Cup. He wore a rigid protective face mask throughout Algeria’s Round of 32 match against Switzerland on July 2/3 in Vancouver — the result of a fractured jaw suffered earlier in the tournament. Algeria were beaten 2-0 (Breel Embolo 10’, Dan Ndoye 46’), ending the Fennecs’ 2026 campaign.
The story’s complexity runs deeper than his surname. Luca was born in France, trained through French academies, and is by heritage connected to one of the country’s most iconic figures. He is also eligible for Algeria: his paternal grandparents are from the Kabylie region of Algeria — the same roots that brought Zinedine’s parents to Marseille, and which shaped the Zidane family’s entire story in France. In September 2025, Luca applied to change his international football allegiance to Algeria; FIFA formally approved the change of association. He had never played a competitive international for France’s senior team, making the switch permissible.
His father, meanwhile, has a confirmed agreement to become France’s next head coach. Zinedine Zidane — who won three UEFA Champions League titles as a manager at Real Madrid across two spells (2016-18, 2019-21) and has not managed professionally since — is confirmed to succeed Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup. The appointment has been reported by ESPN, Goal.com, and beIN Sports; Deschamps himself announced he would step down at the tournament’s end and remains in charge throughout. Zidane’s formal start date is expected in September 2026.
The result is a tableau unprecedented in World Cup history: a son representing one country in goal, wearing a protective mask, while his father waits to become the head coach of another. Millions of French supporters with Algerian roots watched through the night (5am CET) as Luca Zidane stood his ground — then conceded twice. Algeria are out; Zinedine Zidane’s era has not yet begun.
Key facts: Luca Zidane — goalkeeper, Granada CF (Spain), born 2002. Changed international allegiance France → Algeria, September 2025. 2026 World Cup appearances: vs Argentina (group stage), vs Switzerland (Round of 32, wore protective mask). Zinedine Zidane — confirmed France head coach from September 2026, succeeding Didier Deschamps. Sources: beIN Sports, ESPN, Goal.com, World Soccer Talk.