Algeria turns the game around against Jordan and eliminates the opponent from the World Cup.

An epic turnaround propelled Algeria into contention for qualification and sent debutants Jordan crashing out of the 2026 World Cup. In San Francisco, the Algerians managed to overturn a negative result, winning 2-1 in a dramatic finish that leaves the Asian team without any chance of progressing in the tournament.

The match, part of the penultimate round of Group J, began with Jordan surprising everyone by taking the lead in the first half, thanks to a goal from Al Rashdan. Although Algeria dominated possession and created more opportunities, it was the defensive organization of the Jordanian team that held firm for long stretches, keeping the favorites away from goal. However, the scenario changed radically in the second half when the North African side intensified their pressure and sought to recover from the deficit. In the 69th minute, Nadhir Benbouali, with an excellent header following a corner taken by Riyad Mahrez, restored parity and reignited Algerian hopes. The decisive moment came in the 82nd minute, again following a corner kick, with Amine Gouiri appearing opportunely to score the goal that sealed the turnaround and, simultaneously, the fate of Jordan.

THE 2026 WORLD CUP LIVES ON WITH LEGO

This victory takes on fundamental significance for Algeria, which, with six points, remains in contention for qualification to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Meanwhile, Jordan, which has yet to earn any points, is mathematically eliminated from the competition, regardless of the outcome of its final match against the powerful Argentina. The early elimination of Jordan, in its absolute debut at a World Cup, represents a severe blow to the country’s football, which had high hopes of making history but is now left without glory and with more questions than answers for the future.

The Jordanian coach, visibly disheartened at the end of the match, acknowledged the difficulties and praised the commitment of his players: “We fought until the end, but the experience and quality of Algeria made the difference in the second half. We cannot hide our disappointment, but we leave with our heads held high for everything we gave on the pitch,” he stated at the press conference. For his part, Amine Gouiri, the scorer of Algeria’s winning goal, did not hide his emotion: “It was a magical moment. We knew that only victory mattered, and we never gave up. Now we have to believe until the end,” the forward assured, still on the pitch just minutes after the final whistle.

Jordan’s elimination confirms the toughness of Group J and underscores the importance of experience on the highest stages. For Algeria, the victory completely revives their hopes of reaching the knockout stage, at a time when every point can be decisive and qualification is far from guaranteed. The next challenge will be crucial and promises intense emotions, with the Algerians needing at least a draw to keep their hopes alive, depending on the outcome of the clash between Argentina and Jordan.

The coming days will be a time for reflection for Jordan, which will need to rethink its approach and draw lessons from this bitter debut. Meanwhile, Algeria, galvanized by this hard-fought victory, is preparing for a do-or-die situation, at a stage where any slip-up could be fatal. With the group completely on edge, one thing is certain: this World Cup is far from decided and promises more surprises until the very last minute.

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