Algeria has waited 44 years for a chance at World Cup revenge against Austria, but the clash is one of many in the final round of group matches in which sides could settle for a mutually beneficial outcome.
Austria’s 1-0 defeat by West Germany in the 1982 World Cup has lived on in World Cup infamy as ‘the shame of Gijon’ after the teams produced a result that would both go ahead at Algeria’s expense on goal difference.
After worldwide condemnation and an ineffectual formal complaint from Algeria, FIFA decided that in subsequent tournaments the final two matches in each group would be played simultaneously.
Austria’s 1-0 defeat by West Germany in the 1982 World Cup lives on in the infamy of the World Cup as “the shame of Gijon.” | Photo credit: AP
Austria’s 1-0 defeat by West Germany in the 1982 World Cup lives on in the infamy of the World Cup as “the shame of Gijon.” | Photo credit: AP
But the expansion to a 48-team tournament, and with it the return for the first time since 1994 of a number of third-place teams progressing to the knockout stages, has once again opened the door to questions about the sporting integrity of the competition.
Four points are almost certainly enough to at least advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams from the twelve groups.
Australia and Paraguay face each other on three points on Thursday after both defeated Turkey and lost to co-hosts the United States. A standoff in Santa Clara, near San Francisco, would allow both advances.
«I think you’re cheating the game in a way if you try to call a truce with just ten minutes to go. That doesn’t seem right to me,» said Australian defender Jason Geria.
“We could both go further with a point, that’s clear, but I don’t think it’s up to us to just give in or just take our foot off the accelerator.”
The meeting between Egypt and Iran in Seattle on Friday is another one where both countries could benefit from just one point.
Iran overcame enormous challenges posed by the conflict between Tehran and the US and remained undefeated in its first two matches.
A third draw would probably be enough for Iran to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in Iran’s history as at least one of the best third-placed sides.
A point could also be enough for Egypt to win Group G, as long as Belgium doesn’t beat New Zealand by more than two goals.
On top of the possible collusion between the sides to achieve a favorable result, a new change in FIFA rules for this World Cup already means that the third group match will be a dead rubber for many more countries.
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For the first time, head-to-head records instead of goal difference will be used as a tiebreaker for countries at points level.
Mexico, the US, Germany and Argentina are already guaranteed victory in their groups, while Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama know they are out.
World Cup with 64 teams inevitable?
There is another discrepancy in that teams playing in the latter groups will have a much better idea of what it takes to be one of the best third-placed sides.
With three points from the first two games, Scotland will face Brazil in Miami on Wednesday in one of the first groups to end without knowing whether a narrow defeat will be enough to get out of the group stage for the first time.
Algeria and Austria, on the other hand, will know exactly what is needed when the final group matches start on Saturday.
The difficulties associated with reducing 48 teams to 32 have already led to suggestions that a 64-team World Cup is inevitable.
That would allow the traditional format of the top two from groups of four teams to progress to the last 32.
The Athletic reported last year that the idea had already been put forward by a delegation of influential South American leaders ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
Although the proposal faces resistance, an even bigger tournament could prove financially irresistible for FIFA.
The biggest World Cup in history is still missing two of the world’s biggest commercial markets in China and India, while four-time winners Italy failed to qualify for a third successive tournament.
Despite concerns about a decline in quality, the expansion of the World Cup has generated some stories about the tournament.
Cape Verde can still qualify after drawing against Spain and Uruguay, Curacao held Ecuador to earn a first World Cup point, while the bagpiping, kilt-wearing hordes of the Scottish Tartan Army charmed Boston and drank down the bars.
The price to pay for an imperfect format could come this week as the group stages draw to an anticlimactic end.
Published on June 24, 2026
