Argentina advance as Messi makes history, Algeria, Austria advance after impressive draw
Group J produced a final twist on Saturday as Lionel Messi made history, Argentina completed a perfect campaign and Austria grabbed a stoppage-time equalizer to send them and Algeria into the last 16 while also ending Iran’s World Cup hopes.
When the final whistles blew, Argentina finished top with three wins from three, Austria survived thanks to Sasa Kalajdzic’s dramatic late equalizer, Algeria established themselves as one of the best teams in third place and Iran headed home.
While the qualification battle raged elsewhere, Messi added another World Cup record to his remarkable career.
Jordan vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026: Highlights
The Argentina captain became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as the defending champions beat Jordan 3-1 in Dallas to complete an unblemished group stage campaign.
With qualification already secured, coach Lionel Scaloni rested several regular starters and made nine changes to the side that defeated Austria. Even with a significantly changed eleven, Argentina controlled the game from the start.
Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a superb free-kick to become the first Argentinian player other than Messi to score at this World Cup. Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead from the penalty spot after his initial effort came back off the crossbar.
Messi came on just after the hour mark. Twenty minutes later he was on the scoreboard again.
His composed finish in the 80th minute took his World Cup tally to 19 goals and his tournament tally to six. The strike also made him the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, moving ahead of France’s Just Fontaine and Brazilian great Jairzinho.
Jordan pulled one back late on but it didn’t spoil Argentina’s night too much as the defending champions wrapped up a third straight win. They will now face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday in Miami.
If Argentina’s progress was routine, the battle for the next two qualification spots was anything but.
AUSTRIA, ALGERIA PLAY EPIC DRAW
Austria and Algeria produced one of the games of the tournament with a pulsating 3-3 draw that changed repeatedly before producing a final twist in stoppage time.
Marko Arnautovic gave Austria an early lead before Rafik Belghali equalized before the break. Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s advantage early in the second half but Riyad Mahrez equalized again to keep Algeria in the contest.
The final minutes turned into pure elimination football.
Mahrez appeared to send Algeria to victory in the third minute of stoppage time, a goal that would have also eliminated Austria. But with virtually the last kick of the game, Sasa Kalajdzic headed home in the 96th minute to rescue a point and spark celebrations for both teams.
The draw was enough for Austria to finish second in Group J and set up a round of 32 match with Spain. Algeria advanced as one of the best teams in third place and will face Switzerland.
For Iran, whose hopes were of Austria dropping points, Kalajdzic’s late equalizer ended their World Cup campaign in the cruelest of ways.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
28 Jun 2026 09:50 IST