Algerian football icon Lakhdar Belloumi has called on Algeria national football team to pursue what he described as historic sporting revenge against Austria national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reviving memories of one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history.
Belloumi’s comments come as Algeria prepare to meet Austria again on football’s biggest stage more than four decades after the infamous 1982 World Cup encounter in Spain, widely remembered as the “Gijon scandal”.
The former midfielder said the painful events of that tournament continue to affect him, underlining the lasting emotional impact of Algeria’s elimination despite winning two matches during the competition.
At the 1982 World Cup, Algeria defeated West Germany national football team and Chile, collecting four points in the group stage. However, a later match between Austria and West Germany ended in a result that ensured both European teams progressed at Algeria’s expense.
The controversy surrounding that encounter became one of the defining moments in World Cup history and eventually contributed to FIFA introducing simultaneous final group-stage matches at future tournaments.
Now, the upcoming meeting between Algeria and Austria in 2026 has reopened old wounds among many Algerian supporters and former players.
Speaking to El Heddaf television channel, Belloumi openly encouraged the current generation of Algerian players to approach the match with a strong desire for sporting redemption.
“I have advice to give to the Algerian national team players or its officials. We want revenge against Austria,” Belloumi said.
He added: “Because of the Austrian national team, we were denied qualification for the second round in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, because they were part of that conspiracy with the German national team. If the Algerian national team enters its match against its Austrian counterpart with a spirit of revenge, then it will succeed and win, God willing.”
The draw for the 2026 World Cup placed Algeria in Group 10 alongside Argentina national football team, Jordan national football team and Austria.
Algeria are scheduled to face Austria on 28 June in their final group-stage fixture, a match already attracting major attention because of its historical significance.
Before that encounter, the “Desert Warriors” will open their campaign against reigning world champions Argentina on 17 June before taking on Jordan on 23 June.
The tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July.
For Algeria, the 2026 edition will mark the country’s fifth appearance at a World Cup finals.
Despite producing several memorable performances over the years, Algeria have advanced beyond the group stage only once. That achievement came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where the team reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by Germany, who later went on to lift the trophy.
The renewed meeting with Austria therefore carries significance beyond ordinary group-stage competition.
For Belloumi and many Algerian supporters, it represents a rare opportunity to confront a painful chapter in the nation’s football history and perhaps finally ease memories that have endured since Spain 1982.
