Algeria secure World Cup knockout berth with comeback victory over Jordan
Second-half goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri secure Algeria’s first World Cup win since 2014 and guarantee progression to the knockout stage.
Algeria have secured their place in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds following a 2-1 comeback victory against Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in California. The result marks the North African nation’s first World Cup victory since 2014 and their first ever win after conceding the opening goal, a scenario in which they had previously suffered seven losses and two draws.
Jordan, making their debut appearance on the global stage, took the lead in the 36th minute through Nizar Al Rashdan, capitalising on a defensive error. However, the momentum shifted in the second half as Algeria applied sustained pressure, ultimately overturning the deficit to eliminate their opponents from contention for the round of 32.
Substitute Nadhir Benbouali equalised in the 69th minute, heading home from a Riyad Mahrez corner kick. The breakthrough was followed by the decisive moment in the 82nd minute, when Amine Gouiri scored the winner after a touch in the box deflected off Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila into the net.
The victory allows Algeria to potentially finish second in Group J, contingent on their final group match against Austria on Saturday. This result serves as a significant recovery from their opening game, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Argentina.
Jordan’s campaign concluded with a second consecutive loss, following an initial 3-1 defeat to Austria. While the debutants were eliminated, the broader Group J dynamics remain fluid, with Argentina also advancing to the round of 32 after their own victory over Austria.
