CdM 2026: Aït-Nouri, "I dreamed of Algeria when I was a child" (video)

A few hours before the crucial match against Jordan in the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, Rayan Aït-Nouri delivered a message of hope and determination in an interview with FIFA's official website.

Despite the heavy defeat suffered in their opening match against Argentina (0-3), the left-back of the Greens refuses to give in to pessimism. For him, the competition is still long, and Algeria still has the means to bounce back.

"We must stay united. It’s true that we could have done better in the first match. Then, I told my family and my teammates that a tournament is a long process. There is still a long way to go," said the Algerian player.

As the match against Jordan approaches, Aït-Nouri believes that the national team must turn the page on the encounter with the world champions from Argentina and fully focus on the upcoming challenges.

The former player trained in France also spoke about his personal journey and his deep attachment to Algeria. "When I was young, I only thought about football. We would set up two goals and play three against three or four against four. It was wonderful," he recalled.

The defender then revealed that wearing the Algerian jersey represented a childhood dream. "Playing for Algeria has always been my goal. It was an obvious choice. I grew up with Algeria. At home, my parents only spoke Arabic. I never hesitated when the national team called me."

Very proud to represent the national colors, Aït-Nouri understands the responsibility that comes with this privilege. "It’s an honor and a great pride. I dreamed of it when I was a child. We hope to give our all. We want to make our people proud, as well as our families. We want Algeria to be proud of us," he concluded.