Algeria vs Austria Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
by The Stats Zone ·
Updated
Algeria and Austria find themselves in a fairly bizarre situation as they both bid to finish second, or perhaps third, at FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Algeria preview: Defeat and a win
In their opening game of the tournament, Algeria thought they had taken the lead against Argentina with Fares Chaibi's strike disallowed for offside. They then fell foul of the Lionel Messi show, with the Argentine captain scoring an excellent hat-trick to give the reigning world champions a 3-0 victory at Kansas City Stadium.
In their second game, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Algeria went a goal down against Jordan before the Algerians turned things around in the second half courtesy of goals from Nadhir Benbouali and then Olympique de Marseille striker Amine Gouiri.
Austria preview: Win and a defeat
Ralf Rangnick and his Austria side came out on top against the Jordanians in a hard-fought opener. Austria took the lead via Romano Schmid before Ali Olwan equalised for Jordan early on in the second half. A Yazan Al Arab own goal and a Marko Arnautovic penalty then gave the Austrians a much-needed opening-match win.
After that, they managed to limit much of what Argentina could do in Dallas but eventually they too succumbed to the brilliance of Messi. After an early missed penalty, the Inter Miami forward then put Argentina ahead just before half-time before scoring his fifth goal of the tournament late on.
Algeria team news: Amoura out
That winning goal scored by Amine Gouiri against Jordan is handy for his confidence with fellow striker Mohamed Amoura, of Wolfsburg, now sidelined for the North Africans due to a hamstring injury.
Captain Riyad Mahrez came back into the eleven for that game and provided the assist for Gouiri, while Nabil Bentaleb may also now be in-line to start after a shaky performance from Ramiz Zerrouki.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait-Nouri; Boudaoui, Bentaleb; Mahrez, Maza, Chaibi; Gouiri
Unavailable: Amoura (Injured)
Questionable:
Austria team news: Chukwuemeka could come in
Austria head into this final game with what appears to be a fully-fit and available squad for Ralf Rangnick to select from at Kansas City Stadium.
The Austrians have used all-time top scorer Marko Arnautovic off the bench in the opening couple of games but he may now start this time around with Carney Chukwuemeka potentially also coming into the side.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): A. Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, X. Schlager; Schmid, Chukwuemeka, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Algeria’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Rayan Ait-Nouri ($4.9m) – Defender
Fares Chaibi ($6.2m) – Midfielder
Amine Gouiri ($6.2m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Amine Gouiri
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Riyad Mahrez, Nabil Bentaleb
Free kicks: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
Corners: Riyad Mahrez, Fares Chaibi
Austria’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Stefan Posch ($4.3m) – Defender
Marcel Sabitzer ($6.8m) – Midfielder
Marko Arnautovic ($6.0m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Marcel Sabitzer
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Marko Arnautovic, Marcel Sabitzer
Free kicks: Marcel Sabitzer
Corners: David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer
Key stats
- Austria beat Algeria 2-0 in the second group game of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Oviedo, Spain with goals from Walter Schachner and Hans Krankl – the teams’ only previous encounter.
- Algeria are aiming to reach the knockout rounds in a second successive World Cup participation having qualified from their group for the first time when they last featured in 2014.
- Algeria are seeking back-to-back World Cup wins for the first time.
- The victory against Jordan was the first time the Algerians have come from behind to triumph at the FIFA World Cup.
- Amine Gouiri has scored five goals across his last six international appearances.
- None of Austria’s 31 World Cup matches have finished 0-0.
- Austria last qualified from a World Cup group in 1982, having progressed from the opening round in that edition when the tournament consisted of two group stages. They last qualified from a group to a knockout round at the 1954 finals.
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Algeria vs Austria prediction
At FIFA World Cup 1982, Algeria and Austria were involved in the 'Disgrace of Gijon'. With Algeria playing their final game a day earlier, beating Chile, West Germany beat Austria in their final group game by a goal to nil with the two sides defending that scoreline as it sent both teams through, eliminating the Algerians.
Now, in 2026, another bizarre situation has emerged because the winner of this match will finish as runners-up to Argentina in Group J. The Group J runners-up will play the winner of Group H - with those games taking place the day before. It is expected that the winner of Group H will be Spain, whereas third place would play either Switzerland or the winner in Group G, potentially Belgium or Egypt, or the winner of Group L - potentially England but also still possibly Ghana and Croatia.
By the time the game kicks off, the two teams will know the score with regards to their potential opponents but it would be cynical and simply wrong to suggest either side will then play accordingly.
What is known is that the two sides possess some quality in the final third with Austria providing more control in midfield and so siding with the Austrians to at least avoid defeat seems a reasonable bet.
Algeria vs Austria betting tip: Double chance – Austria or draw
