Austria-Algeria match ends in 3-3 draw, Iran out of FIFA World Cup

Austria and Algeria both scored in injury time in a thrilling encounter to draw their last Group J match 3-3 and secure a place in the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Due to this match being a draw, Iran was out of the tournament. It played its last group match in a 1-1 draw. Iran scored a potential winning goal in injury time but it was ruled out for offside. Iran’s hopes of reaching the Round of 32 suffered a major blow due to the cancellation of the goal.

To reach the next round, Iran needed to finish among the best 8 teams ranked third but their journey ended after the Austria-Algeria match ended in a draw. If either Austria or Algeria had won this match, Iran would have made it to the next round by making it among the best 8 third placed teams, but this could not happen.

The end of the match played between Austria-Algeria was very exciting, in which at one time Iran’s hopes of reaching the next round were formed but Sasa Kalajdik scored an equalizing goal for Austria at the last minute.

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Austria reached knockout after 44 years

The score was tied at 2-2 in the last minutes of the match. Then Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored his second goal in stoppage time. Austria was on the verge of being eliminated from the tournament but moments later Kalajdik kept the team’s World Cup hopes alive by scoring an equalizing goal. Marko Arnautovic (28th) and Marcel Sabitzer (55th) also scored for Austria.

Austria finished second behind Argentina in Group J and qualified for the knockout rounds for the first time since 1982. Now he will get a chance to face European champion Spain in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Apart from Mahrez (60th and 3rd minute of injury time), Rafik Belghali (45th) also scored for Algeria, which secured third place in Group-J. It will face Switzerland in the round of 32.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule