Kansas City, June 28 — Austria and Algeria both advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 after a thrilling 3-3 draw in their final Group J match at Kansas City Stadium on Sunday, with Sasa Kalajdzic’s last-gasp equaliser handing Austria the runners-up spot and sending Algeria through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Defending champions Argentina had already secured top spot in the group, leaving Austria to meet Spain at Los Angeles Stadium on July 3 and Algeria to face Switzerland in Vancouver on the same day.
Austria took the lead in the 28th minute when Marko Arnautovic ran onto a long ball and finished beneath goalkeeper Oussama Benbot. Algeria responded strongly: Fares Chaibi struck the woodwork before a chaotic sequence — a ball bouncing off the corner flag — saw Riyad Mahrez react quickest and feed Rafik Belghali, who slalomed through the Austria defence to level, according to FIFA.
Early in the second half Austria retook the lead as Marcel Sabitzer met Nicolas Seiwald’s precise cut-back with a first-time finish from about 18 yards. The advantage lasted only five minutes, however, when Houssem Aouar drove down the left and supplied Mahrez, who swept home from close range to make it 2-2. The match remained tense and cagey until stoppage time, when Mahrez struck again to put Algeria ahead, only for substitute Sasa Kalajdzic to bundle home a dramatic late equaliser to seal a 3-3 draw and Austria’s passage to the knockouts.
The result marks Austria’s first progression beyond the group stage since 1982 and sends Algeria into the knockout rounds for only the second time in their World Cup history, following their run in 2014.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/fifa-wc-austria-and-algeria-through-to-knockouts-after-six-goal-thriller
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Publish Date: 2026-06-28 11:14:00
