At the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Algeria advanced from a group featuring Belgium, Korea Republic, and Russia before giving eventual champions Germany a run for their money in the Round of 16, eventually losing 2-1 after extra time. Faouzi Ghoulam was part of that spirited Fennecs side, starting matches against Belgium and Germany.
A knee injury picked up in 2017 had a lasting effect on the remainder of his career, but Ghoulam explained that the setback taught him a great deal, especially about personal growth. In an interview, he assessed Algeria's chances at the 2026 World Cup, where they have been drawn in an exciting group with Argentina, Austria, and Jordan.
Ghoulam explained that choosing Algeria was a choice of the heart. Though born in France, he has always felt deeply connected to his Algerian roots, with his parents born there and his whole family living there. Donning the national team shirt has been one of the biggest honors of his career, with the best part being making his parents proud. He described his overriding memories of Brazil 2014 as incredible, noting that for any footballer, playing at the World Cup is the ultimate achievement.
