Overview
- Algeria and Austria meet at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, June 28 with kick‑off at 03:00 BST in a match that will decide which route they take into the round of 32.
- Algeria will be without forward Mohamed Amoura because of a hamstring problem and are expected to start Amine Gouiri as their main attacking threat after his winner against Jordan.
- Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has publicly said his side know the exact result they need and signalled a cautious, qualification‑first approach to the game.
- Argentina have already clinched top spot in Group J so Lionel Scaloni is expected to rotate for the June 28 game against Jordan while Lionel Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s group goals and defender Cristian Romero is set to sit out with a minor knee issue.
- A draw would suit both teams because of tournament pathways and the expanded 48‑team format means finishing second could pit a side against a powerhouse like Spain while finishing third may offer an easier round‑of‑32 tie, a strategic trade‑off made sharper by memories of the 1982 Gijón match.