Algeria and Austria finish 3‑3 in World Cup 2026 round of 16

In the round‑of‑16 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at GEHA Field in Kansas City, Algeria and Austria ended regulation time level at 2‑2 before a dramatic extra‑time surge produced a 3‑3 draw. Riyad Mahrez scored twice for Algeria, first equalising in the 60th minute and then giving his side a 3‑2 lead in the 93rd minute, both assisted by Houssem Aouar. Austria responded with a late equaliser in the 96th minute when Sasa Kalajdzic headed home from a Michael Gregoritsch pass.

Former referee Jonas Eriksson criticised FIFA’s tournament format, saying the new structure allowed both teams to play for a mutually beneficial draw and that the design “takes the spirit of football away.” He likened the passive approach to the 1982 “Shame of Gijón” and called for a revision of the competition layout.