Algeria and Austria in dramatic draw as both reach World Cup knockout stages

DUBAI: A barely believable 3-3 draw between Austria and Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City sent both teams to the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 as the second and third placed teams in Group J.

The build-up to the fixture had focused on its infamous historical significance. Algeria had lost 2-0 to Austria on its first World Cup participation in 1982, and were later notoriously eliminated when West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in the “Disgrace of Gijon” match, a result that meant the European neighbours progressed to the second round and the north African one was eliminated.

Here both teams came into the match on three points, with Austria on a goal difference of 0 in second place while Algeria were third on -2. Ironically, for the historians, a draw would see both safely through to the knockout stages.

The other match in the group was irrelevant for the final placings, with Argentina guaranteed to finish top and Jordan confirmed as the bottom team.

Having been left on the bench for the opener against Argentina, Algeria’s talisman Riyadh Mahrez started his second match in row, and was involved in most of Algeria’s early play down the right wing.

After 10 minutes 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza, the German-born heir-apparent to Mahrez, showed a glimpse of the talent that makes many call him the future of Algerian national team football by flicking the ball over Romano Schmid and volleying over the bar from distance.

However, it was Austria who struck first on 28 minutes when 37-year-old Marko Arnautovic — his country’s record goal scorer — flicked the ball past Oussma Benbot when put through by David Alaba’s long pass. As things stood, Austria were heading to the knockout stages and Algeria home. Watching from the