Algeria clinched a place in the World Cup round of 32 after a frantic 3-3 draw with Austria, igniting jubilant celebrations among supporters who packed a north African cafe in Sydney to witness the decisive group stage finale.
Riyad Mahrez appeared to have sealed victory for Algeria when he struck late in the match, only for Austria to equalise in the dying seconds. The result proved sufficient to end a 12-year absence from the knockout phase for the North Africans, who advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.
Community Spirit in Surry Hills
At Cafe Tanja in Surry Hills, fans draped in green and white gathered hours before kick-off, sipping tea and sharing merguez sausages as tension mounted. The atmosphere swung between anxiety and elation as the goals flew in.
Austria opened the scoring, briefly silencing the upstairs viewing area until Algeria equalised before the interval. The second half brought further drama as both sides traded blows to reach 2-2.
With just two minutes remaining, Mahrez’s finish sent the venue into pandemonium. Stools became drums and chants of “one, two, three, we love Algeria” echoed through both floors. Though Austria levelled in the final seconds, confirmation that the point guaranteed progression triggered renewed cheers.
For many present, the venue offered more than a screen. Billy, who moved from Algeria over a decade ago, explained the sacrifice usually required to follow the national team. “Usually I put the alarm on and watch the game early in the morning,” he said. “This year we got lucky because we finally have good timing to watch all the games in Australia.”
He praised the cafe’s homemade cooking, noting it “reminds me of my culture and my adjoining heritage.”
The establishment holds deep personal significance for owner Sanah Djebli, 34, who runs it with her family. “We lost my brother four years ago,” she explained. “He left us some money and it was always my mum’s dream to open a cafe. And because I was living in Australia we wanted to do it here – we wanted to do something for our community.”
Canada March Into Round of 16
While Algeria celebrated progression to the round of 32, Canada secured a more direct path to the latter stages with a late winner against South Africa. Jesse Marsch’s side advanced to the round of 16, where they will face either the Netherlands or Morocco.
The victory marked a significant moment for Canadian football, coming as the knockout stages commenced across the tournament.
Algeria will discover their round of 32 opponents once the final group standings are confirmed, extending a tournament journey that has already taken their Sydney-based supporters from Los Angeles—where some watched the victory over Jordan—to Australia.