Austria End 40-Year Wait; Algeria Match 2014 Feat At FIFA World Cup As Iran Ousted

Published 28 June 2026 · sports

Austria End 40-Year Wait; Algeria Match 2014 Feat At FIFA World Cup As Iran Ousted Published By, Last Updated: June 28, 2026, 09:50 IST Austria

Austria End 40-Year Wait; Algeria Match 2014 Feat At FIFA World Cup As Iran Ousted Published By, Last Updated: June 28, 2026, 09:50 IST Austria vs Algeria ends 3-3 in a dramatic FIFA World Cup clash, Sasa Kalajdzic scores late as both progress to Round of 32. Rapid Read Sasa Kalajdzic celebrates after scoring Austria's third goal against Algeria (Picture credit: AP) Austria and Algeria played out a thrilling 3-3 draw on Saturday, June 27, with both teams advancing to the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. The result also confirmed Iran’s elimination from the tournament at the group stage. Veteran forward Marko Arnautovic gave Austria the lead at Arrowhead Stadium,, but Algeria drew level before half-time through Rafik Belghali, whose goal came with a massive slice of fortune.

Star midfielder Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage with a brilliant strike, but Algeria responded within minutes as former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez brought them level once again. Both teams appeared to have settled for a beneficial draw in the closing minutes but there was still time for some edge-of-the-seat drama. Mahrez struck again in the 93rd minute to seal a win for Algeria, but substitute Sasa Kalajdzic had the final say, rising to head home in the dying moments and spark jubilant celebrations among the Austrian footballers. The result means the two teams both finish Group J on four points behind Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who topped the section with nine points. Austria are in the FIFA World Cup knockout round for the first time since 1982, while Algeria have matched their performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Algeria will play Switzerland in the next round, while Austria, who finished second in the group, will face European champions Spain. The build-up to the game was dominated by speculation over whether either team would avoid finishing second to steer clear of a Round of 32 clash with Spain, one of the favourites to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy. Both managers dismissed any suggestion that the game would be rigged at their pre-match press conferences and the nature of the match underlined their case. The game, played in humid conditions in the American Midwest, burst into life after the first hydration break, which was booed by the Algeria-supporting crowd. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: June 28, 2026, 09:40 IST News sports football Austria End 40-Year Wait; Algeria Match 2014 Feat At FIFA World Cup As Iran Ousted Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.