Jordan came to the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium with nothing to lose and caused Algeria real problems for large parts of this Group J encounter. For an hour, the tournament debutants looked capable of pulling off one of the upsets of the round. Then Algeria’s coach reached for the substitutes bench, Riyad Mahrez reached for a corner flag, and everything changed. Two goals in the second half completed a come-from-behind 2-1 victory that keeps Algeria’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign alive and eliminates Jordan from the tournament.
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Jordan Strike Against the Run of Play
Algeria had been the more purposeful side in the opening exchanges, and the goal, when it came in the 36th minute, arrived entirely against the run of play. Nizar Al-Rashdan caught the Algerian defence flat-footed and produced a moment of genuine quality — an outside-of-the-boot finish that curled past the goalkeeper and settled into the net. A debut tournament goal for Jordan. A sucker punch for the Desert Warriors.
Jordan then did what every well-coached underdog does with a lead: they made themselves as difficult to play through as possible. Algeria probed. They circled. They tried wide. They tried through the middle. Jordan held firm all the way to the whistle, carrying that 1-0 advantage into half-time.
Petković’s Half-Time Gamble Pays Off
Vladimir Petković had seen enough. The Algerian coach made the call at half-time, bringing on Nadhir Benbouali to inject fresh offensive energy into a side that had been too passive in the final third. The effect was almost immediate — Algeria began to press higher and win more second balls.
Ten corners. Algeria had ten corners in this match. They were always going to find a way through eventually. In the 68th minute, they did. Mahrez delivered a whipped cross from a corner, and Benbouali — the substitute, the fresh legs, the half-time gamble — rose above the Jordan defence and headed emphatically into the net. Equaliser. One apiece. The game was on.
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Gouiri Settles It — VAR Agrees
The winning goal arrived in the 81st minute and came with its own moment of tension. Another Algerian corner — this time delivered by Anis Hadj Moussa — caused chaos in the Jordan box. In the scramble, Amine Gouiri reacted quickest and flicked the ball past goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila. Algeria celebrated. Jordan protested. The referee pointed to the VAR monitor.
The review lasted long enough to make Algerian hearts pound. When the decision came back — Gouiri onside, goal confirmed — the relief was palpable. Algeria 2-1. The Desert Warriors had turned the match on its head.
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Group J: Argentina on Top, Jordan Bow Out
The result confirms Argentina at the summit of Group J — six points from two matches, already through to the Round of 32 and the dominant force in the group. Jordan, despite showing genuine spirit and defensive resolve across both their fixtures, are eliminated. For a team making their World Cup debut, there is much to be proud of. Al-Rashdan’s goal and their composure under sustained pressure speak of a team that belongs at this level — even if the tournament ends here.
Below Argentina, the picture is tight. Austria sit second on three points after their opening win over Jordan, though Lionel Scaloni’s side handed them a 2-0 defeat in Match Day 2. Algeria, after their win today and with three points of their own, now sit level with Austria on points. Goal difference is what pushes Austria ahead — but the two sides meet in MD3.
Win, and you are through. Lose, and you are likely done. It does not get more straightforward than that. June 28, Kansas City Stadium — with a Round of 32 place riding on every touch.
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