Algeria secured a crucial 2-1 comeback victory over Jordan on Tuesday at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, enhancing their chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After a difficult opening match in which they were heavily defeated by Argentina, Algeria rallied to keep their campaign alive in Group J.

The team’s captain, Riyad Mahrez, who had been sidelined during the loss to Argentina, played a pivotal role in the turnaround. In the 69th minute, Mahrez delivered a corner kick that Nadhir Benbouali headed into the net, leveling the score. Later, Amine Gouiri scored the winning goal following an initial strike by Jordan’s Nizar Al Rashdan, who had given his side the lead in the 35th minute.

This victory places Algeria in a position to contest for second place in the group behind Argentina, with a forthcoming match against Austria slated for Sunday in Kansas City. Algeria’s coach, Vladimir Petkovic, emphasized the importance of the win, stating it bolstered the team’s confidence and belief moving forward.

Algeria’s return to the World Cup marks their first appearance since 2014, when they were eliminated in the round of 16 by eventual champions Germany. Mahrez, 35, who now competes for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, demonstrated his enduring influence by topping several statistical categories in the match, including creating three chances and delivering seven crosses. Despite these contributions, not all of Mahrez’s attempts succeeded; he missed a notable shooting opportunity in the first half and had another shot saved by Jordan’s goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

Mahrez’s career has been marked by significant achievements in club football. After rising to prominence in domestic leagues, he played a key role in Leicester City’s unexpected Premier League title win in 2016. He later transferred to Manchester City, where he added multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy to his accolades.

With Algeria’s next World Cup fixture approaching, the spotlight remains on Mahrez as he seeks to further his team’s progress on football’s biggest stage.