It had all the signs of a possible match-fixing controversy. A draw that suited both teams. A slow second half. Players talking during a break. Nervous reactions on the bench after a late goal. And memories of one of football’s biggest scandals.
When Algeria and Austria drew 3-3 at the 2026 World Cup, both teams reached the last 16 while Iran were eliminated. Soon after the final whistle, social media was flooded with claims that the match had been fixed.
Do you remember the “Disgrace of Gijón” at the 1982 World Cup? In that match, West Germany beat Austria 1-0. After the early goal, both teams stopped attacking because the result was enough to send them through and knock Algeria out.
The situation looked similar this time.
Before kick-off, both Algeria and Austria knew that a draw would be enough to qualify. When the match finished 3-3, the result was too perfect to be a coincidence.
One moment attracted more attention than any other.
After Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez made it 2-2 in the 60th minute, the game slowed down for around 15 minutes. Austria passed the ball around in defence while Algeria pressed very little.
Then, in the 82nd minute, television cameras showed Algeria defender Aïssa Mandi speaking to Mahrez during an injury break. Some social media users claimed, without evidence, that Mandi was passing on news from the Iran against Egypt match and telling Mahrez that a draw would be enough.
Attention then turned to Algeria’s bench.
When Mahrez scored in the 93rd minute to make it 3-2, coaches and substitutes looked tense rather than relieved. Some online users claimed they were worried because Austria would be eliminated if the score stayed the same, ending an alleged agreement. Others pointed out that a win would also leave Algeria facing Spain in the last 16.
One RMC commentator said, “When Algeria scored, I didn’t know whether to celebrate or be upset because we would be facing Spain.”
Austria pushed forward in the closing moments and Sasa Kalajdžić headed home in the 96th minute to make it 3-3.
The match itself was dramatic.
Austria took the lead through Marko Arnautović in the 28th minute before Rafik Belghali equalised just before half-time.
Marcel Sabitzer restored Austria’s lead in the 55th minute, but Mahrez levelled five minutes later.
Mahrez looked to have won the match with his second goal in stoppage time before Kalajdžić rescued Austria with almost the last kick of the game.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick rejected any suggestion of an agreement.
“After what we saw in the last 90 seconds, nobody can think there was any agreement,” he said.
“If someone had told me three minutes before the end that it would finish 3-3, I would have said they were crazy.”
He added: “If Alfred Hitchcock had written such a script, I would probably have said he was completely crazy.”
Algeria coach Vladimir Petković also dismissed the claims.
“I am extremely happy that, in the end, football won. A score of 3-3 says it all,” he said.
Iranians have called on FIFA to investigate the match.
