Algeria produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far, overturning a first-half deficit to defeat Jordan 2-1 in a thrilling Group J encounter.
The match appeared to be heading Jordan’s way after they took a surprise lead in the first half. Algeria had opportunities to go ahead early on, but captain Riyad Mahrez squandered a golden chance that left fans stunned.
The missed opportunity proved costly moments later as Jordan found the breakthrough, sending their supporters into celebration and taking a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Algeria’s first-half frustrations were compounded by a costly mistake from goalkeeper Luca Zidane, whose error played a major role in Jordan’s opening goal. The North Africans struggled to find their rhythm before the break and faced the prospect of a damaging defeat.
However, the second half belonged to Algeria.
With time running out, the Desert Warriors finally found a way back into the match when Mohamed Benbouali fired home the equalizer. The goal was created by a brilliant assist from Mahrez, who redeemed himself after his earlier miss and reignited Algeria’s hopes.
The momentum immediately shifted in Algeria’s favor as Jordan struggled to withstand the growing pressure. Then came the decisive moment in the dying seconds of the match.
Deep into stoppage time, Amine Gouiri emerged as Algeria’s hero. The striker found the back of the net with a dramatic last-minute winner, completing an incredible comeback and sparking wild celebrations among players and fans alike.
The dramatic 2-1 victory keeps Algeria firmly in the race for qualification and could prove to be one of the defining moments of their World Cup campaign.
For Jordan, it was a heartbreaking defeat after leading for much of the contest and coming within moments of a famous result.
