Algeria’s comeback launches Messi and Argentina into World Cup knockout round
The defending champions are moving on while a debutant was eliminated following Monday night’s World Cup match at Levi’s Stadium.
Algeria became the fourth team in this summer’s World Cup to come from behind, beating Jordan 2-1 in their second match of Group J in front of a spirited crowd in Santa Clara.
The finish meant Argentina, the winners of the 2022 tournament in Qatar who defeated Austria 2-0 earlier on Monday, officially won Group J. Argentina became the fourth side to clinch their group after two games, joining the United States, Germany and Mexico.
It also means megastar Lionel Messi will be advancing to the knockout stages. The 38-year-old has scored all five of his team’s goals through two World Cup matches, including a hat trick last week against Algeria and two more Monday versus Austria.
Argentina will play the second-place finisher in Group H — featuring Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde — at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on July 3.
Algeria earned its first points of the tournament, tying Austria at 3. The teams will play each other Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City in a match that will decide the second-place finisher in the group.
“We saw how everyone wanted it today,” said Algeria’s 20-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Maza, who was named Man of the Match. “We fought as a team and we won it as a team, as one player.”
Jordan was officially eliminated from the knockout round after losing their first two matches of the World Cup, both coming at Levi’s Stadium. The Middle Eastern country with a population of 11.6 million was playing in its first World Cup. They will finish their tournament by playing an inconsequential match against Argentina to wrap group play Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
It was the fourth match of the tournament at the 49ers’ home venue — dubbed “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” for the World Cup. All four games have had strong crowds nearing the 68,827 capacity FIFA announced before the start of the tournament.
Jordan was the plucky underdog who played with far more energy early in the game, knowing they were out manned by the Algerians who have a slew of players featured on top European teams.
“I do believe that we have performed on par, we scored in the first half. After (halftime), we didn’t have the best start,” Jordan manager Jamal Sellami said. “I think our lack of experience allowed them to score corner kicks when we were waiting to make our own substitutions with the cooling break.”
Jordan took the early lead a goal in the 36th minute after Algeria gave up possession on their own end. Jordan’s star player Mousa Al-Tamari whiffed on a crossing attempt, but the ball went right to midfielder Nizar Al-Rashdan, who hit the shot with the outside of his right foot. Algerian keeper Luca Zidane got his left hand on the shot, but couldn’t keep it from crossing the line.
Algeria, which FIFA ranked No. 29 to Jordan’s No. 63, controlled possession throughout, but lacked the final touches in the scoring areas when falling behind. But they started pushing in the second half and played with more urgency, leading to the game-tying goal off a corner in the 69th minute, a header from Nadhir Benbouali. It was Algeria’s first goal of the World Cup and first in the tournament since 2014 in Brazil.
Algeria scored again in the 82nd minute, also off a corner, when striker Amine Gouiri knocked a loose ball beyond the keeper. He leaped over the perimeter LED board to celebrate with the Algerian supporters’ section in the south side of the stadium. The team’s issues in the scoring area during real time were masked by scoring two goals off corner kicks.
Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler was at the game and helped amp up the crowd on the giant video boards before kickoff. The A’s on Tuesday are opening a series in San Francisco against the Giants.
Levi’s Stadium will host one more group stage match on Thursday when Australia takes on Paraguay before the Round of 32 game July 1 when the United States will play a knockout match against a third-place finisher from group B, E, F, I or J.
This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 11:07 PM.
