2026 World Cup Group J: Algeria vs Austria Preview, Odds and Predictions (June 27)
- When: Saturday, June 27, 2026. 10:00 PM ET
- Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
- How to Watch: FS1
The 2026 World Cup completes the end of the third round of matches with the final matchup in Group J getting underway in Kansas City as Algeria takes on Austria. Both squads are fighting for a place in the Round of 32, meaning there will be plenty of pressure on both nations on MD3.
ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026: Our Experts Share Their World Cup Picks
Algeria Stats & Team News
Algeria is in need of a win to finish second and automatically punch its ticket to the Round of 32, but a draw may be enough to do the trick. They have three points after two matches, losing 3-0 to Argentina before bouncing back in a 2-1 victory over debutants Jordan.
Amine Gouiri and Ahmed Benouali had the honor of netting the country’s first goals since the 2014 World Cup. They look to build on their momentum from the Jordan match while getting assistance from Riyad Mahrez with his shot creation on the offensive side of the ball.
Likely Lineup:
(4-2-3-1) Zidane (GK); Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Aït-Nouri; Bentaleb, Boudaoui; Mahrez, Maza, Chaïbi; Gouiri
Austria Stats & Team News
Austria was unable to pull off an upset against Argentina, giving up two goals to Lionel Messi in a 2-0 defeat. This comes after they took down Jordan in a convincing 3-1 win in the group opener.
Romano Schmid and Marko Arnautovic scored the Austrians’ first goals since 1998, hoping to keep the country’s tournament going. They haven’t experienced a deep run since the early editions of the World Cup, seeking their best results in the modern era.
Likely Lineup:
(4-2-3-1) Schlager (GK) Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, Schlager; Schmid, Wanner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch
Head-to-Head Stats
- This is the second all-time meeting between Algeria and Austria.
- This marks the second competitive meeting between the nations, first since the 1982 World Cup.
Algeria vs. Austria World Cup Picks
Both teams have three points in the group going into Matchday 3, only needing a draw to secure a spot in the Round of 32. Algeria and Austria will be cautious on the defensive side of the ball, but they will try to go for the win and obtain a better path in the knockout stage. It would be safe to believe that both teams will come out of the match with a 1-1 draw.
