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

sportsJun 28, 2026601,135

Algeria and Austria played to a 2-2 draw at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in the Group J decider, a match that settled second place in the group. Rafik Belghali scored just before half time after the ball ricocheted off the corner flag, and both sides exchanged late goals including two separate stoppage-time equalizers that kept the score level. The fixture carried historical weight as a 44-year echo of the "Disgrace of Gijón," which framed the match as a rare grudge meeting between the nations. Because a draw ensured both Algeria and Austria finished ahead of Iran, the 2-2 result eliminated Iran from contention and allowed Algeria and Austria to advance from Group J. The game drew live minute-by-minute coverage and produced repeated debate about the simultaneous kick-off rule and the match's competitive incentives.

CJ Fogler

@cjzero.bsky.social

Algeria and Austria has officially transitioned to the Simpsons GIF

2392h ago

Steven Hadidi17

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND

Eric McClure2

Had to turn it off.

Quoting this

sans culottes5

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

1821h ago

t a p e8

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

reggie seidman4

To make it worse, Algeria in Spanish is Argelia.

KC Momkin1

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

Luis Paez-Pumar

@lpp.bsky.social

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

1351h ago

David_j_roth36

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

Adam V.10

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

t a p e6

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

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

Firkinho Gaucho2

the FIFA World Prisoner's Dilemma

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

993h 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 Sherman245

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 Activist142

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

SickosFC22

Also bounces off an Austrian defender ouch too lol

hammancheez20

motherfucker used the ball like a fucking weapon lmfao

Justin Horneker11

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

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...

The Lawrence Times

@lawrencekstimes.com

Team Algeria tied Austria 3-3 tonight, and Lawrence's newest home team will advance to the round of 32 in the World Cup. lawrenceks.news/4f7isn1

261h 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.

263h 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

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

321h ago

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.

313h ago

Ben Wright

@benwright.bsky.social

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

272h ago

Mike

@mikedkuhn.bsky.social

The Algeria/Austria game has been way more fun than it needed to be.

222h ago

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.

221h 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:

"This is a Kansas City Shuffle"

Bruce Willis in Lucky Number Slevin

162h ago

Danny Page4

iran is the poor sap in the terminal

Steve Burtch1

I mean the final 30 minutes until stoppage was *very drawn out* by the Algerians.

Quoting this

Danny Page5

I can't tell how many times we got shuffled. probably slevin times

Ryan Rosenblatt

@ryanrosenblatt.bsky.social

It took 80 minutes, but Algeria and Austria finally realized they were being very stupid by trying

182h ago

Brent Travels2

This tweet somehow aged poorly

katie eschbacher1

this show is not going to be over before the game is over!!

Velodus✨

@velodus.bsky.social

Before they invented the shot clock, NBA games were a lot like the end of this Algeria-Austria game

192h ago

CBS Sports Golazo

@cbssportsgolazo-m.bsky.social

28': Algeria 0-1 Austria 🇦🇹 45': Algeria 1-1 Austria 🤝 55': Algeria 1-2 Austria 🇦🇹 60': Algeria 2-2 Austria 🤝 90+4': Algeria 3-2 Austria 🇩🇿 90+6': Algeria 3-3 Austria 🇦🇹 Austria were OUT until Sasa Kalajdzic's late equalizer sends them to the Round of 32 With this result,

91h ago

Quoting this

Oliver Das Gupta8

Kurz, mal eingeschlafen und dann ist schon wieder was passiert. Und zwar gleich doppelt in der Nachspielzeit. Bist du deppat ⁉️ #ALGAUT

Georg Hanisch 🖇️2

"Für Spanien muss i mi fit spritzen lassen" Andi Herzog nach dem Spiel #algaut

3 sources

nzherald.co.nzAlgeria and Austria clash to decide second place in the group espn.comWhy Algeria vs. Austria is 2026 World Cup's biggest grudge match theguardian.comAlgeria v Austria: World Cup 2026 – live

Lionel Messi scores in seventh straight World Cup gamesports Algeria and Austria draw 2-2 in World Cup group decidersports

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

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