Did the Algerian national team deliberately avoid Spain?

The Algerian national team reminded everyone of one of the most sensitive memories in World Cup history, after finishing the group stage in the 2026 World Cup with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Austria, in a match that opened the door wide to questions: Was the draw a natural result of the chaos in the final minutes, or did calculations play a role in avoiding a match against Spain?

The irony is that Algeria, which paid the price for the "Heikhon scandal" in 1982 after the famous match between West Germany and Austria, found itself four decades later facing a new Austrian opponent, but this time amidst complex calculations: a win would have put the "Greens" on a path to Spain, one of the top contenders for the title, while the draw led to a seemingly less harsh matchup against Switzerland in the Round of 32.

The scenario increased doubts instead of dispelling them. An Algerian goal in the 90+3 minute seemed to grant victory, before Austria quickly responded in the 90+6 minute, ending the match with a result that was almost ideal for both sides: Algeria qualifies and avoids Spain, while Austria also progresses despite facing the Spanish team.

And although Riyad Mahrez denied any off-field calculations, affirming that the team "did the most important thing, which is qualifying," the nature of the ending, the timing of the goals, and the intertwining of interests made the match fertile ground for controversy. Was it just a crazy football coincidence, or did the memory of Heikhon return this time in a reversed manner?

What is certain is that Algeria emerged victorious from the calculations, and that Iran was the biggest victim, as the draw dashed its hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in its history. As for the doubts, they will remain associated with this thrilling match, just as Heikhon has lingered in the memories of Algerians for forty years.