Fifa has formally declared three former French junior internationals eligible to play for Algeria.
A request for a change of nationality for Habib Belaid, Ryad Boudebouz and Mohamed Chakhouri was approved by world football’s governing body on Tuesday.
This means all three players will be available to play for the Desert Warriors at the World Cup in June.
This will come as a boost for the Algerians as they are without a number of players through injury.
The trio all played for France at junior level but, because they are dual nationals and have not been capped at senior level, they are eligible to represent Algeria.
Belaid and Boudebouz were named in a preliminary squad of 25 by Algeria coach Rabah Saadane this month for their pre-World Cup preparations, which start in Switzerland on Thursday.
Fifa said it had also received a request from Algeria about former Liverpool midfielder Carl Medjani, who now plays for Ajaccio in the French second division.
“The matter is being assessed and a decision will be taken very soon,” a spokesman said.
Algeria have been drawn in World Cup Group C along with England, Slovenia and the United States.
Meanwhile, Fifa says no decision has yet been taken on the status of former Germany U21 international midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The Portsmouth midfielder has applied for national switch to enable him play for Ghana at the World Cup.
