Algerian football legend Lakhdar Bloumi has spoken out about the national team’s group in the 2026 World Cup, calling for a measure of revenge against Austria. The draw has placed Algeria in a group alongside Argentina, Jordan, and Austria.
In an interview with DZWatch, Bloumi stated, “The group isn’t extremely difficult, despite what some might say.” He emphasized the importance of the match against Austria, recalling the infamous 1982 World Cup incident. Bloumi passionately urged the current squad to seek a form of sporting retribution for the events of that tournament.
“The players need to be fully aware of what Austria and Germany did in the 1982 World Cup,” Bloumi insisted. He stressed the necessity of securing all three points against Austria and advancing to the next round of the competition.
The 1982 World Cup saw Algeria, Austria, and West Germany embroiled in controversy. After Algeria’s victory over Chile, Germany and Austria played a match widely considered a blatant fix. Germany’s 1-0 victory ensured both European nations progressed to the next round at Algeria’s expense, despite all three teams finishing with the same number of points. The match, held in Gijon, became known as the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ due to its unethical nature.
The fallout from that match led FIFA to change its regulations, mandating that the final group stage matches be played simultaneously to prevent collusion and ensure fair play. Bloumi hopes the current generation of Algerian players can use this history as motivation to overcome Austria in the 2026 World Cup and rewrite the narrative.
