Algeria Refused To Bow Out, Completing A Dramatic Comeback To Eliminate Jordan
Algeria produced a spirited second-half comeback to defeat Jordan 2-1 in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J encounter and keep its knockout hopes alive. Jordan stunned the Desert Warriors against the run of play when Nizar Al-Rashdan fired them ahead in the 36th minute after Algeria had squandered several chances, including two gilt-edged opportunities for Riyad Mahrez. Algeria dominated possession throughout and finally found the breakthrough in the 68th minute when Nadhir Benbouali powered home a header from Mahrez's corner. The winner arrived eight minutes from time as substitute Amine Gouiri made an instant impact, heading in Amin Hadj Moussa's corner to complete the turnaround. The result eliminates Jordan from the tournament while Algeria remains firmly in the race for a Round of 32 berth.
Jordan's Nizar Alrashdan (21), right, and teammates react after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eakin Howard
Jordan's Ehsan Haddad (23) reacts after their loss in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Algeria's Nabil Bentaleb (19) celebrates after their win in the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
A camera operator captures images as Jordan's Nizar Alrashdan (21) reacts following the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila, second left, and his teammates react after Algeria's Amine Gouiri (9) scored his side's second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Algeria's Ibrahim Maza, back, controls the ball chased by Jordan's Abdallah Nasib during the World Cup Group J soccer match in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eakin Howard
Algeria players celebrate with supporters after Amine Gouiri scored their side's second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Algeria's Amine Gouiri (9) celebrates with supporters after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Algeria's Amine Gouiri celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Jordan during the World Cup Group J soccer match in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eakin Howard
Algeria's Amine Gouiri (9) scores his side's second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Jordan's Husam Abudahab (4) and Algeria's Rafik Belghali (17) battle for a ball during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Algeria's Amine Gouiri (9) scores his side's second goal on Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila (1) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan's Mahmoud Almardi (13) tries to hit the ball back up field against Algeria's Rafik Belghali (17) during the first half of the World Cup Group J soccer match in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Algeria's Nadhir Benbouali (12) heads the ball while scoring his side's first goal off a corner kick during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan's Mousa Altamari reacts at the end of the first half of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan fans celebrate their team's goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Spectators react after Jordan's Nizar Alrashdan scored the opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Jordan's Nizar Alrashdan, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Algeria during the World Cup Group J soccer match in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eakin Howard
Jordan's Ehsan Haddad (23) battles for the ball with Algeria's Fares Chaibi (10) during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Jordan's Ali Olwan, center, competes for the ball against Algeria's Ramiz Zerrouki, left, and Ramy Bensebaini during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
A crowd watches the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan's King Abdullah II, second from left, attends the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila (1) celebrates a successful defense of a shot on goal with teammates during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Jordanian fans get ready for action before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Spectators hold an Algeria flag during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Jordan players pose for a team photo before the start of the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
The Algeria starting 11 players pose for photographers during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
A large Jordanian flag is seen during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
Flags are seen on the field during a pregame ceremony prior to the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Algeria in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco. | Photo: AP/Jeff Chiu
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