The Algeria national football team produced one of their most memorable recent results after defeating the Netherlands national football team 1-0 in Rotterdam, setting a series of records ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The friendly match, played at De Kuip on Wednesday evening, saw Algeria secure a dramatic late victory thanks to a superb strike from winger Anis Hadj Moussa in the 86th minute.
The result represented more than just a morale-boosting win for the Desert Warriors. It also placed Algeria alongside Egypt national football team and Morocco national football team as the only Arab African teams to defeat the Netherlands in friendly matches.
Egypt achieved a 2-1 victory over the Dutch in 1982, while Morocco recorded the same scoreline in 1999. Algeria’s success in Rotterdam now adds a third historic Arab victory over Oranje.
The win also marked Algeria’s first victory over a European side on European soil in 37 years.
The last time Algeria defeated a European national team away from home was in 1989, when they overcame Malta 1-0 during a friendly tournament. Since then, victories against European opposition on their own ground had remained elusive until the triumph in Rotterdam.
It was another significant milestone for the North African side, who are using the friendly schedule to prepare for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Algeria also secured their first victory against a European nation in 12 years.
Their previous success against European opposition came on 4 June 2014, when they defeated Romania national football team 2-1 in a warm-up match ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
The latest result against the Netherlands therefore ended a lengthy wait for another such achievement.
Defensively, the match represented another breakthrough for Algeria.
By keeping a clean sheet against the Dutch, the Desert Warriors recorded their first shutout against European opposition since 2014, when they defeated Slovenia national football team 1-0 at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium.
The victory also ended an impressive unbeaten run for the Netherlands.
Before losing to Algeria, the Dutch national team had gone 14 matches without defeat, a sequence stretching back to October 2024 when they suffered a 1-0 loss to Germany national football team.
Algeria’s disciplined performance and late winner from Hadj Moussa finally brought that run to an end in front of the Dutch supporters in Rotterdam.
The result is likely to increase confidence within the Algerian camp ahead of the World Cup, where the team will soon begin its campaign in a difficult group.
Algeria are scheduled to face Bolivia national football team in another friendly match on 10 June in Kansas City as preparations continue.
The Desert Warriors have been drawn into Group 10 at the 2026 World Cup alongside Argentina national football team, Jordan national football team and Austria national football team.
With momentum building after their famous night in Rotterdam, Algeria will now hope their latest historic achievement can serve as the foundation for a strong World Cup campaign.
