Total secrecy: Algeria to play behind closed doors before facing Argentina | OneFootball

Just days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Algeria is making its final adjustments for its opener against Argentina and has made an unusual decision: it will play a closed-door friendly against Bolivia to prevent the names of the players it plans to field in its debut from becoming known.

The match will be played next Wednesday at 10 p.m. and will not be open to the public or journalists. According to DSports Radio, the African national team will use the game as a final test ahead of the clash with La Albiceleste and is looking to keep the starting lineup being prepared by the coaching staff under wraps.

The move drew attention because the friendly will take place outside the official period authorized by FIFA for this type of match. For that reason, there have so far been no formal announcements about the organization of the game or other details related to the event.

In addition, it emerged that the match will be held at Rock Chalk Park, a sports complex belonging to the University of Kansas. The Algerian national team is training there during its stay in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Argentina national team is closely following the movements of its first rival in the World Cup. The meeting between the two is scheduled for June 16 and will mark the beginning of Lionel Scaloni’s side’s World Cup journey.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.