Algeria revived their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Jordan on Monday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, eliminating the tournament debutants and keeping their own hopes of reaching the knockout rounds very much alive. Second-half substitute Nadhir Benbouali headed Algeria level in the 69th minute before Amine Gouiri — of French club Olympique de Marseille — poked home the winner eight minutes from time to give the North African side their first World Cup victory in over a decade.
Jordan, appearing at their first-ever World Cup, had given an organised and disciplined performance to lead at the break. The opening goal came in the 36th minute when Algeria midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki — who plays for FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie — turned the ball over in his own half, allowing a swift counter that ended with Nizar Al-Rashdan drilling into the bottom corner. It was the first time Jordan had ever led in a World Cup match. Algeria, who had struggled to break down a compact Jordanian defensive block, went in at half-time trailing despite enjoying the better of the early chances, with captain Riyad Mahrez twice finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but unable to convert.
Coach Vladimir Petkovic responded at the interval by introducing Benbouali alongside Nabil Bentaleb, and the tactical shift proved decisive. Benbouali's physical presence as a target striker gave the attack new dimensions, offering Gouiri and Mahrez more room to operate and allowing Algeria to penetrate centrally rather than relying on wide play. Both goals came from set pieces — a recurring weakness for Jordan, who conceded four of their five goals in the tournament from dead-ball situations. Benbouali met a Mahrez corner with a glancing header, and Gouiri's winner deflected off Jordanian goalscorer Al-Rashdan and past goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila after a corner delivered by substitute Anis Hadj Moussa, who plays for Feyenoord in the Netherlands.
The result leaves Algeria level with Austria on three points in Group J, with Argentina — who beat Austria 2-0 earlier the same day — already confirmed as group winners. Jordan, who had also lost their opener 3-1 to Austria, are eliminated. Notably, this is the first time Algeria have won a World Cup match after conceding the first goal, having previously gone seven losses and two draws in such situations.
The victory sets up a decisive final group game with historic overtones: Algeria face Austria in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, 44 years after the so-called "Disgrace of Gijón." At the 1982 World Cup in Spain, West Germany and Austria played out a result that eliminated Algeria from the tournament, in a match widely suspected of collusion — though both nations denied any wrongdoing and FIFA cleared them. A win on Saturday would send Algeria through to the round of 32, and offer a measure of symbolic redemption for Algerian football.