World Cup 2026: Kalajdzic's 96th-Minute Goal Sends Both Teams Through

A finish no one will forget

The World Cup 2026 group stage produced one of its most dramatic conclusions yet as Austria and Algeria shared six goals in a match that kept both dugouts on the edge until the final whistle. Sasa Kalajdzic's equaliser deep into stoppage time, in the 96th minute, rescued a 3-3 draw for Austria and, in doing so, confirmed that both nations will advance to the knockout rounds.

The result, reported by Sky Sports, caps a remarkable group campaign for two sides that came into the fixture knowing a point each could be enough, depending on how events played out elsewhere.

How the match unfolded

Algeria looked poised to claim maximum points heading into the final stages, having led at different points during an end-to-end contest. The North African side showed real attacking intent throughout and built what appeared to be a winning advantage as the clock wound down.

Austria refused to fold. Kalajdzic, the towering striker, had other ideas. With the board showing six added minutes, he converted to make it 3-3, sparking wild celebrations from the Austrian bench and sending a wave of relief through their supporters. For Algeria, despite conceding late, the draw was enough to see them through as well.

The final scoreline meant both teams collected the points they needed from a chaotic group finale. It is the kind of finish that will be replayed across highlight packages for the rest of the tournament.

What it means going forward

For Austria, Kalajdzic's intervention could prove to be one of the most important moments of their tournament. The striker, who has dealt with serious injury setbacks in recent years, has now delivered when the pressure was at its highest on the biggest stage in club football.

Algeria, competing with clear ambition and a well-organized side, can take genuine confidence into the next round. They matched a European opponent for the full 96 minutes and showed the attacking quality to score three goals in a World Cup group match.

Both squads now turn their attention to the knockout rounds, where the margin for error disappears entirely. After a group stage exit that left many neutrals wanting more, these two teams will be ones to watch as the tournament moves into its decisive phase.