Spain will play against Austria in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, this Thursday in Los Angeles. It knew that it had to face the second in group J, won by Argentina, and that that rival would be defined in the duel that would close the first phase between the Austrians and Algeria. Both teams that, with the results of the other groups already known, a tie would favor them, one as second (Austria) and another as one of the best third parties (Algeria). Whoever lost was out.
With the score at 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining, a white flag began to fly in the Kansas City stadium: Africans and Europeans seemed to sign a non-aggression pact. However, out of context, in the 93rd minute came a goal from Algeria. Austria was eliminated, Algeria rose to second place in its group – and had to face Spain – and Iran, from a distance, celebrated its continuity as one of the best third parties. But the match was missing one last twist: in the 95th minute came the tie that gave Austria qualification, once again as second in its group.
With 3-3, the Africans also advanced to the next phase, as one of the eight best third parties. , who finished ninth in that table and was eliminated. The 3-3 was decided at the buzzer, but it will open the doors to suspicions, with or without foundations. In Spain 1982, Austria was precisely the executioner – in complicity with West Germany – and Algeria, the victim at the close of the first phase.
For 75 minutes, this Saturday was an intense match in which both teams sought victory, although the draw still favored them. During the week, some speculation had revolved around a possibility that was ultimately not on the table: if any team wanted to avoid Spain, especially Austria—which came second—it was better for them to lose.
But with the results defined in the rest of the groups, the one who lost between the Austrians and Algerians was eliminated. The only option left for Austria was to finish second, that is, face Spain. Algeria, if it won, could have jumped to second place: in fact, it was a few seconds away from being La Roja’s rival.
The first half was real. Or so it seemed. Austria found its first goal in the middle of parity: in the 28th minute, a long shot by David Alaba found Marko Arnautovic inside the Algerian area, the Crvena Zvezda striker who scored at the far post before the departure of Ousssama Benbot. Algeria was eliminated, but did not have time to despair: in the 45th minute it found peace with Rafik Belghali’s 1-1 partial.
They were just settling in, in the second half, when after 10 minutes Austria’s second goal came, scored by Marcel Sabitzer. Five minutes later, Algeria returned to the tie: Riyad Mahrez, the former Manchester City forward, scored 2-2. And then the match was played in an unknown dimension, as if entering a black hole.
After 30 minutes, the tie seemed like a matter of time. Algeria always had more of the ball, but in the air there was a smell of a 2-2 by mutual agreement, a supposed gentlemen’s agreement. A lot of passing to the sides, the far areas, the ball as an intrusive, radioactive matter. In this context, Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovi wanted to make two changes, but could not simply because the ball did not leave the field of play. That Iran was eliminated? Someone else’s problem.
Amid the whistles from the public for the lack of spectacle between two teams that had already decided the tie, the Uzbek referee Ilgliz Tantashev gave four minutes of added time. And then the unexpected happened: in the 48th minute, the ball returned to one of the areas when Houssem Aouar filtered a pass for Mahrez, who precisely defined before the departure of Alexsander Schlage for his double and made it 3-2. Sports dignity? Betrayal? Revenge of the Misfortune of Gijón, 44 years later?
It could have been all of that together, and maybe it was, but in the 95th minute, with the added time already over, Sasa Kalajdzic equalized to make it 3-3. Since football allows for a thousand interpretations, some will focus on the lackluster reaction of Algeria’s defense, as if it wanted to make up for the misunderstanding by Mahrez – or as if it did not want to face Spain in the next phase – and others will simply say that it is the magic of the most unpredictable sport in the world. If there was anyone who did not deserve the result, it was Iran, the team worst treated by FIFA and the United States in the World Cup.
Algeria will go against Switzerland, also on Thursday, in the round of 32. Austria, which was seconds away from being eliminated, will have Spain. They left a predictable tie behind, but not in this crazy way.
