Algeria set seemingly unbreakable World Cup record in KC on late goal vs. Austria
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- Algeria completed 723 passes in their 3-3 tie with Austria in Kansas City.
- Riyad Mahrez scored in the 93rd minute after a build-up of 110 completed passes.
- Algeria held possession for more than five minutes during the goal sequence.
Canada completed 298 passes Sunday in a 1-0 win over South Africa in a Round of 32 match. South Africa had 467 successful passes.
By comparison, Algeria piled up 723 completed passes (out of 775 total) during its thrilling 3-3 tie Saturday with Austria in a Group J match at Kansas City Stadium (aka Arrowhead). A large chunk of those passes came in the final 10 minutes when the teams seemed content to play for a draw.
A 2-2 tie, that is.
Ah, but things changed in a heartbeat when Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored in the 93rd minute. The, uh, buildup to the goal saw Algeria complete an incredible consecutive 110 passes. That dwarfs anything the powerhouse Spain teams did in the early 2010s, when the team was known for stringing together an insane number of passes that led to a goal.
The big reason for Algeria’s passing — should we call it prowess? — was that the teams appeared to be playing out the string when Mahrez’s goal shocked everyone.
Even himself.
“I know it was a bit awkward, to be honest,” Mahrez said. “We were playing wide, and they were sitting. At the last minute, someone plays a ball inside, and ... I have to make the run. I have to respect football, and the ball arrived in front of the keeper. I have to score. I have to try to score.”
Algeria had the ball for more than 5 minutes in a goal-scoring sequence we will likely never witness again. X user Ola Lidmark Eriksson said that sequence featured 66% more completed passes than any other in this World Cup.
Algeria advanced to the knockout round and will play Switzerland on Thursday in Vancouver.
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 8:30 AM.
