Algeria vs. Austria offers questions of all kinds – a win for either team could potentially hurt their own World Cup hopes.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick is very aware of what his team needs when they face Algeria tomorrow – in one of the most protracted matches in World Cup history.
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The North Africans have never forgotten the “Gijón scandal” of the 1982 World Cup, when Austria and West Germany played for over an hour with the score 1-0 to the Germans – and seemingly little interest in scoring, as the result sent both teams through at the expense of Algeria.
The irony is that a draw 44 years later will probably send both teams through.
“It’s definitely an advantage that we already know exactly what result we need before kick-off,” Rangnick said.
“We have to make sure that in the last game we are absolutely sure of reaching the knockout rounds. In the end, it doesn’t matter who we meet.
Rangnick is partly right – but there is an underlying issue: his team could actually benefit from a narrow defeat to finish third in the group. The runners-up in the group will probably face European champions Spain in the last eight – and it may be better to secure a place as one of the best third teams and bet on potentially weaker opposition.
Algerian coach Vladimir Petković did not want to speculate on possible scenarios, but admitted after the win over Jordan:
“I think we have delivered two good performances. We deserved to win this game, and it gives us a lot of confidence and belief before the next game. The most important thing for us was to win this game, stay in the fight for advancement and have our destiny in our own hands. Nothing has been decided yet, but we are in a good position.
World Cup 2026: Team news for Algeria vs Austria
Algeria are still without striker Mohamed Amoura due to the hamstring injury he suffered against Argentina. Austria can bring back veteran striker Marko Arnautović.
Algeria vs Austria: Predicted line-ups for the 2026 World Cup
Algeria (4-3-3): Zidane – Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Aït-Nouri – Bentaleb, Benbouali – Mahrez, Maza, Chaïbi – Gouiri
Austria (4-3-3): A. Schlager – Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer – Seiwald, X. Schlager, Schmid – Wanner, Sabitzer – Arnautović
World Cup 2026: Algeria vs Austria statistics
- Algeria’s 3-0 defeat to Argentina in their opening match was their heaviest World Cup defeat – the same result as against Spain in 1986 – although the ten finishes they conceded were their third fewest in such a match, after 2014 against South Korea (9) and 2010 against Slovenia (6).
- In that match, Aïssa Mandi became the first African player ever (since 1966) to make at least 100 successful passes in a World Cup match – completing 100 of 105 passes (95.2%). Only Lionel Messi (7) had more passes that broke lines in the final third than Mandi’s five.
- This is Algeria’s fifth World Cup participation, and the first since 2014 – which is the only time they have progressed from the group stage.
- They won two of their first three matches at the 1982 World Cup, but have only won two of their 11 matches since.
- Algeria have one clean sheet in 15 World Cup games – a 0-0 draw with England in 2010.
- Austria have won 10 of their last 13 matches in all competitions (one draw, two losses) – and had won four straight before losing to Argentina.
- Marcel Sabitzer will play his 100th cap for Austria when he starts against Argentina – making him the fourth highest scorer in the nation’s history (on par with Aleksandar Dragović), behind Marko Arnautović (135), David Alaba (115) and Andreas Herzog (103).
- Arnautović, who is 37 years old, became Austria’s all-time top scorer in qualifying with 47 goals – ahead of Anton Polster (44).
- Sabitzer and Arnautović are the only players to have represented Austria in each of the last three European Championship finals (2016, 2020, 2024).
- Ralf Rangnick is the second head coach to lead Austria in two major international championships (World Cup and European Championship), after Josef Hickersberger (World Cup 1990 and Euro 2008).
World Cup 2026: Algeria vs. Austria prediction
A difficult match to predict. A draw – but not a win – is the perfect result for Algeria, while a narrow loss would not be the end of the world for Austria.
Prediction: Algeria 0-0 Austria
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