FIFA Changes World Cup Format After Austria-Algeria 'Fix' Accusations In Gijon

A World Cup match in Gijon between Austria and Algeria triggered accusations of a “fix” after Austria took a 10th-minute lead through Horst Hrubesch and, with Algeria having played their final game against Chile the previous day, the permutations were set before kick-off.

“The World Cup has, so far, lacked an element of real jeopardy in the group stage”

BBC

The match’s setup left Austria aware that so long as they didn’t lose by three goals or more to the Germans, they would still pip Algeria to second place in Group 2 on goal difference, and the closing stages saw no incentive for a draw that would have eliminated neighbours West Germany.

BBC

As fans in the ground realised what was happening, some began burning banknotes while chanting, "It's a fix!", and Austrian commentator Robert Seeger asked viewers to switch off the TV while his German counterpart Eberhard Stanjek simply stopped talking.

Former Germany international Willi Schulz later called all 22 players on the field "gangsters", and the following day Gijon newspaper El Comercio printed its match report in its crime section.

The Algerian Football Federation called for an investigation, but FIFA found that nobody had actually broken any rules, and it changed the format so the final two fixtures in each group kick-off on the same day and at the same time.

Czechia’s World Cup campaign ended with an early group-stage exit, and Canal + Sport chief football commentator Karel Häring said the disappointing performances cannot be blamed on the head coach or the players alone.

Häring argued the tournament exposed long-standing structural weaknesses in Czech football, saying "The defeat was deserved" and adding that "The performances simply were not at the level that should be required."

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He questioned the future of head coach Miroslav Koubek, who indicated he intends to fulfil his contract rather than resign, while Häring cautioned that the coach should not be made the sole scapegoat.

Häring also pointed to a lack of energy and emotion, saying "One of the biggest talking points is why the team lacked energy and emotion" and that "Those are basic things you need if you want to succeed."

He further said the Football Association may not have prepared the squad properly for the unique conditions in North America, noting the Czech team played two matches at altitude in Mexico despite having completed much of its preparation elsewhere.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup using a Fair Play tiebreaker, FIFA assigns deductions for yellow cards, indirect red cards resulting from a second booking, direct red cards and combinations of a yellow card followed by a direct red.

“The Germans had gone into the match sitting third in Group 2 primarily due to a shock 2-1 loss to Algeria in their tournament-opener”

Goal

The system uses a points scale where a yellow card is -1 point, an indirect red card is -3 points, a direct red card is -4 points, and a yellow card followed by a direct red is -5 points, and only one deduction can be applied to a player in a single match.

In the BBC’s analysis of the 48-team format, the group stage has lacked real jeopardy, and it said South Korea may disagree after a shock 1-0 defeat by South Africa on Wednesday sent them into the knockout stage for the first time.

The BBC described how the addition of third-placed qualifiers creates scenarios where teams can play for specific results, warning that "Two matches in particular this week will be a real test of the format" and noting that teams could play out convenient draws.

It also tied the format’s jeopardy to the need for eight best third-placed teams to advance, explaining that "It became harder to be knocked out than to progress" and that the final group fixtures can determine who reaches the last 32.