Eliminated by Switzerland at 2026 World Cup, Petkovic refuses to leave Algeria job

Vladimir Petkovic has no intention of resigning. Despite the wave of criticism that has descended upon him following Algeria’s elimination in the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, the 62-year-old Bosnian head coach intends to see out his contract, according to journalist Mohammed Nedjari. “Petkovic is not thinking of leaving and wants to see his contract with the FAF through,” he stated on social network X.

The Fennecs lost 2-0 to Switzerland in the early hours of Friday in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. A defeat that many observers saw as logical, which denies Algeria a historic first victory in a knockout match at the World Cup. In the local press and on social media, supporters have singled out Petkovic as the main culprit for this failure and are calling for his departure.

Anger is all the more intense because the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), Walid Sadi, extended Petkovic’s contract through 2028 — with a salary increase — just before the tournament began. A decision that was already contested at the time and which is crystallizing tensions today.

According to media outlet Batola, Walid Sadi would now be inclined to part with the coach and could offer him a one-million-euro severance to break the contract. Petkovic, appointed in February 2024 to replace Djamel Belmadi, reportedly has no intention of accepting for now. The future of the head coach of the Greens should be decided in the coming days.