Algeria grabbed their first win to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign alive with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over debutants Jordan in Group J at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara on Monday.
Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri combined to give the Desert foxes a lifeline as they search for their first knockout berth since 2014.
Both teams entered the match on the back of opening-round defeats — Algeria having been dismantled 3-0 by Lionel Messi’s Argentina, and Jordan losing narrowly to Austria — making this a do-or-die contest for both sides.
Algeria dominated possession from the outset, with Ibrahim Maza and Rayan Ait-Nouri combining crisply in midfield. But despite having 52% of the ball, the Desert Foxes could not translate their control into clear chances in the early exchanges. The closest they came in the first half was when a well-calculated long ball from Hicham Boudaoui found Riyad Mahrez, who made a sharp run in behind the Jordan backline but could not get his shot past goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.
Jordan, organised and full of belief despite their underdog status, took a shock lead in the 36th minute. Nizar Al Rashdan, showing tremendous composure, caught Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane — son of the legendary Zinedine — off guard with a first-time effort struck with the outside of his boot, which flew into the far corner. It was a goal of real quality and one that rattled a stunned Algeria side into half-time.
Head coach Vladimir Petkovic acted decisively at the interval, introducing Nadhir Benbouali as part of his changes, and the substitute made an immediate impact. In the 69th minute, Mahrez delivered a teasing corner from the right and Benbouali met it with a powerful header to level the scores — Algeria’s first goal of the 2026 World Cup.
With Jordan visibly tiring, Algeria sensed blood. The winner came in the 82nd minute through another set piece. Substitute Anis Moussa, who had replaced Mahrez six minutes earlier, whipped in a corner that found a knockdown in the box, and Amine Gouiri reacted quickest to prod home from close range. A VAR check for offside followed, but the goal was confirmed and Algeria had their winner.
The result eliminates Jordan from the tournament with a game to spare, though the debutants depart with considerable credit. They proved twice in this competition that they can compete at this level, and will face Argentina in their final group match with nothing to lose.
Algeria, meanwhile, head into a decisive Group J clash against Austria knowing that a win will be enough to book their place in the round of 32. The first World Cup win for the Desert Foxes since defeating South Korea in 2014 could not have come at a better time.
