Algeria and Austria draw 2-2 in World Cup group decider

sportsJun 28, 2026961,924

Algeria and Austria played to a 2-2 draw in the final Group J match at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, a dramatic decider for second place. The game revisited a long-running rivalry, outlets noted this fixture as Algeria’s chance for revenge related to the 44-year-old “Disgrace of Gijón” episode. The match featured a halftime equalizer when a ball bounced off the corner flag and Rafik Belghali finished into the net, and both sides traded leads in the second half before settling on 2-2. Algeria supporters displayed a banner thanking the people of nearby Lawrence, Kansas, where the team had been based during the group stage. The draw split the points that determined who finished second in Group J and settled the final group standings going into the knockout round.

CJ Fogler

@cjzero.bsky.social

Algeria and Austria has officially transitioned to the Simpsons GIF

35145d ago

Steven Hadidi21

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND

Eric McClure2

Had to turn it off.

Quoting this

sans culottes6

I swear to god, I just said to my gf, "they're just doing the Simpsons GIF now," and then jdjidhxhxhshzhzbxn

Mark Taylor3

⚽ #FediFC #FIFAWorldCup #Soccer #Football It really does look like this. ... 👀

Patrick Cosmos

@veryimportant.lawyer

algeria vs austria with an all-time classic battle against my dyslexia

29445d ago

t a p e13

there should have been an algeria/argentina/austria/australia group

reggie seidman9

To make it worse, Algeria in Spanish is Argelia.

KC Momkin3

At first I thought this was a reflecting pool algae joke. But no, just Algeria and such.

Bea1

i'm just audhd with dyscalculia, but i scrolled thru 11 posts before i realized algeria had NOT just been playing... australia. i've been watching the australian version of "hunted" tonight. my brain must have seen the au and copied the al over. 🫣

Luis Paez-Pumar

@lpp.bsky.social

Algeria Austria absolutely one of the most bizarre World Cup games in history. What the hell was that

17245d ago

David_j_roth38

I found it quite easy to parse. Perhaps you do not understand the beautiful game?

t a p e14

I feel like Algeria was trying to make Austria think they were fine with the draw but wanted to give them the dagger at the last second. except they didn't do it late enough

Adam V.13

I went from almost turning the game off out of boredom to gripping my television while screaming

Firkinho Gaucho5

the FIFA World Prisoner's Dilemma

awitcher.bsky.social5

its been a while that i have been shaking from a football game ... i cant even describe what i just watched lol

Joe Ryan2

I was there with my son and a couple of his friends. We thought the game was over and took a group photo. Thirty seconds later Algeria scores.

JM =^)

@jm539581.bsky.social

Algeria 1-1 Austria 45'- Ball bounces off the corner flag, stays inbounds and eventually Rafik Belghali buries the shot into the net

12145d ago

Keith Marrero1

Wait, how are you watching this in English without having to listen to JP Dellacamera? I desperately need to know

Quoting this

Rodger Sherman373

I don't think I've ever seen a soccer player take out a defender by slamming the ball into their nuts en route to a goal before.

Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist191

A goal so good I changed my mind, Algeria should be in

SickosFC26

Also bounces off an Austrian defender ouch too lol

hammancheez23

motherfucker used the ball like a fucking weapon lmfao

Justin Horneker12

KU Football is going to be watching tapes.

Greg With Two G's3

I think physics is acting up, tell the dorks at the Large Hadron Collider to turn it off and on again.

Jeffrey Keese3

This clip has LEVELS of awesomeness/hilarity

Sara2

this is one of the funniest goals i’ve ever seen in my entire life

Artist Formerly Known As Whoopty-Hell 🦋2

There is a lot going on here!

Conor P. Williams2

Disables one guy by kicking the ball into his stomach, then stepover-rolls it past two guys….then BOOM bsky.app/profile/jm53...

James Nalton

@jdnalton.bsky.social

Algeria fans with a banner thanking the people of Lawrence, Kansas, for their hospitality while they were based there during the group stage. One of this World Cup's positive stories. Photo by FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City.

Algeria fans display a large banner at their game against Austria in Kansas City, which reads "Thank you Lawrence"

8844d ago

Quoting this

Murshed Zaheed14

One of the feel good stories of this #worldcup ▶️ Lawrence of Algeria.

Wompwomp3

This Word Cup is another reminder of the “2 things can be true” rule that is hard, but necessary tension to hold through life. Fans denied visas for no reason, because our government sucks, is racist and we can never stop calling them out. Alongside that, you also have beautiful stories like this.

SickosFC

@sickosfc.bsky.social

Countries with base camps at Division I Schools to advance to the Knockout Rounds. Ghana 🇬🇭 - Bryant Austria 🇦🇹 - UC Santa Barbara Paraguay 🇵🇾- San Jose State Norway 🇳🇴 - UNC-Greensboro Algeria 🇩🇿 - Kansas Egypt 🇪🇬 - Gonzaga Germany 🇩🇪 - Wake Forest Senegal 🇸🇳 - Rutgers

5944d ago

SickosFC19

Countries with base camps at Division I Schools to be eliminated. Jordan 🇯🇴- Portland New Zealand 🇳🇿 - San Diego Curaçao 🇨🇼- FAU

David R2

The photos from the Egypt team meeting the Gonzaga basketball team are great...

Quoting this

norfölkology3

A decade+ of Coznesster’s voice in my head every time I read Rutgers #Blessed

Jeff "Belt Runner 2049ers" Krisko2

goddamn I could not even imagine a national soccer team traversing Isla Vista lol

Aaron Ragsdale2

Rutgers University, cradle of football, nurturer of futbol.

𝙽𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝙸𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙸𝚝

@nashishereforit.bsky.social

I had the amazing privilege of attending the Algeria vs Austria game last night. What an amazing experience! I’m so proud of our city. 💚🤍❤️

5944d ago

Anthony (game script enthusiast)

@proant.bsky.social

Algeria and Austria with the wildness of a Saturday night Pac-12 game and the defense of the Big 12

4545d ago

SugarBearChi1

Pac-12 after dark is back.

statsboye

@statsboye.bsky.social

Gotta feel for Iran given all the circumstances of how Egypt-Iran ended and now this Algeria - Austria draw, and also all the treatment they got from the United States as hosts.

3945d ago

Angelo1

Trainer said it diplomatically when he said, most unlucky team in the tournament

Jamie1

I hate offsides by a big toe

Pop Crave

@popcrave.com

Algeria and Austria draw 3-3 at the World Cup. Both teams advance to the Round of 32.

4245d ago

ian

@ahandleforian.bsky.social

It’s kind of funny we did this whole simultaneous matches rule to avoid what’s about to happen with Algeria and Austria.

2945d ago

Bonanza Cat (USMNT SZN)3

Somehow I doubt Algeria would pass up a chance for payback for what happened in Gijon. They may never get a chance like this again.

ben2

Gijón 2 being between algeria and austria

Alexander Abnos

@anabnos.com

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Algeria v Austria. This is from one of the signature uppermost corners of this beautiful building. Wanted this one for a while.

3345d ago

Ben Wright

@benwright.bsky.social

Algeria vs Austria may be the best match of the tournament so far! Unbelievable stuff!

3245d ago

Danny Page

@danny.page

Everyone going into this match just knew that Algeria and Austria would just play out the draw. Then they end up scoring a bunch of goals and attacking hard, making us believe both team were going for a win... only to end in a draw anyway? well, there's only one thing to call it: