Arnautovic scores as Austria edges Algeria toward knockout stage

Marko Arnautovic gave Austria the opening goal against Algeria in Kansas City Stadium, and the 37-year-old striker’s finish briefly pushed Austria toward the round of 16 in Group J. The goal, which made it 1-0, came at a decisive moment for a side back at a World Cup for the first time in 28 years and still managing the pressure of a tournament return after missing every edition since France 1998.

Austria entered the match with real stakes on both sides of the bracket. A win would strengthen its path into the knockout stage, while Algeria also needed points to keep its qualification hopes alive. The setting underlined the tension: Austria had arrived in the 2026 tournament in Group J with momentum from a 3-1 victory over Jordan, its first World Cup win in 36 years, and Algeria had already been pulled into a group race that left little margin for error.

That opening victory over Jordan set the tone for Austria’s campaign. Romano Schmid scored first, Ali Olwan equalized in the second half, and Yazan Al Arab’s own goal restored Austria’s lead before Arnautovic sealed the result with a penalty in the 90th minute plus 12, a late strike that FIFA highlighted as the end of Austria’s 36-year wait for a World Cup win. The sequence also showed how finely balanced Austria’s attack had become, with younger runners and old hands contributing in the same match.

Ralf Rangnick’s 26-man squad for the tournament reflected that blend, with David Alaba among the headline names and Arnautovic still central at 37. His goal against Algeria fit the same pattern as the Jordan match: not always pretty, but decisive when the game tightened and the pressure rose. That matters for Austria because the margin in Group J remained thin, and ESPN noted after the first round that Austria and Algeria were level on points, making their meeting especially important for the route into the last 16.

Arnautovic’s strike was more than a lead. It was a reminder that in a World Cup, veteran forwards can still tilt the field with one touch, even if the finish carries a measure of fortune and arrives in a game where every point is weighted by qualification.