Algeria and Austria may both want to lose when they go head-to-head in their 2026 World Cup match this weekend.

The two nations will face each other at the Kansas City Stadium on Sunday, June 27. Both teams have picked up a win and a defeat from their opening two matches.

Austria are currently second in the group, only ahead of Algeria on goal difference. Bizarrely, it can be argued that it may be better for both sides if they lose their encounter this weekend.

Harry Kane forces Scotland fans to admit his greatness

Austria and Algeria May Prefer to Finish Third

Pro Shots/Sipa USA via Reuters

Argentina have already secured top spot in Group J after beating Algeria and Austria. That means Austria and Algeria will play their match to determine who finishes second and third.

The team that finishes second will play the winners of Group H. While it is not yet certain, Euro 2024 champions and the world’s number one ranked side, Spain, are very likely to finish first.

If the team which finishes third in Group J is among eight of the best-performing third-place sides, they will go into the last 32 and face another group winner. As things stand, Algeria are in line to meet the United States at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 1.

The USA have been very impressive this tournament and a match against the co-hosts would undoubtedly be tough. However, a game against Mauricio Pochettino’s side is much less daunting than a game against the reigning European champions.

Therefore, both teams will be hoping to secure qualification to the knockout rounds by virtue of being one of the best-performing third-place sides.

A draw would arguably be the perfect scenario for Algeria. It will almost certainly them progression as one of the best-performing third-place sides, and also secure them an easier opponent than Spain.

The good news for both nations is that they will know exactly what they need to do when the match kicks off on Sunday. Every other group would have been concluded before kick-off, meaning they would know who their last 32 opponents would be depending on the result of the match.

Austria Boss Ralf Rangnick Rages at Lionel Messi Goal

Reuters/Maria Lysaker

Austria were beaten 2-0 by reigning World Cup champions Argentina on Monday. Ralf Rangnick was not happy with the officiating before Lionel Messi’s first goal.

He said, per the Independent: “We knew he was on a level of his own and Lionel Messi showed `he’s one of the best, or even the best. But I think we participated ​in the ⁠second goal, that’s our own ‌fault.

“For the first goal, I would’ve asked the fourth official to do what he did before the penalty kick, he should have looked and he would’ve seen what everyone saw, a foul on (Xaver) Schlager. It was annoying. ‌However, I’m overall satisfied with my team and I agree with how they played today.”

He was happy with his side’s performance despite the defeat.

“During every match at a World Cup there are phases where one team has the momentum on their side,” he added. “It was in our favour, they missed the penalty kick and after that we were in the game.

“I would’ve asked my players to be braver, to shoot ‌during the second half. ​We were in control of the ball, most ‌people didn’t expect us to be ​that much in control. I think in the second half we put in a top performance.”

A 2026 World Cup fan has released a statement after they were assaulted for waving a rainbow-coloured flag in Canada.

Alex Alber, a 33-year-old from Berlin, travelled to Toronto to watch Germany play Ivory Coast in their second match of the tournament. The match ended 2-1 to Julian Nagelsmann’s side, with Denis Undav scoring a late brace to secure them the victory.

Afterward, Alex celebrated Germany’s victory in a sports bar with two of his friends. However, he was allegedly attacked and injured by a group of individuals believed to be motivated by homophobia.

Alex has now documented exactly what happened and showed an image of his injuries on Instagram.

Kai Pfaffenbach via Reuters

Alex started by saying that he was attacked by a group of men in their early twenties. His injuries were so severe that he had to go to hospital, where he was forced to pay a $5,000 medical bill:

He said: “We were out at Club Paris Texas in Toronto. A friend brought a rainbow fan. That was enough. It started with slurs from a group of guys, early twenties. It ended with us being attacked. This photo is the result.

“I’m okay now. The jersey didn’t survive. A $5,000 medical bill did. But that’s not what leaves me speechless.

“What does: people in their early twenties, a generation we keep calling more open than the last, still carrying this kind of hate. I’m not gay myself. But I know the LGBTQ+ community lives with this every single day, and that’s exactly why I won’t stay silent.

“For us, that fan means one thing. Everyone gets to be who they are. Freedom. Diversity. People living as themselves. Experiencing this as a guest in someone else’s country breaks my heart.

“And the club was only the tip of the iceberg. My friend got harassed all day, in the stadium, by other fans, by German fans too. This isn’t about one nation. It’s everywhere, and that’s the point.”

Alex said the police have been notified. He added: “We’ve spoken to the police. We have photos and videos of the people who did this. We’re deciding our next steps.

“This World Cup has written some beautiful stories. This is one of its ugly ones, and pretending it doesn’t exist helps no one. So we’re sharing it.

“To raise our voice and say it plainly: we will never tolerate this, and we will stand against it every single time. And to you: if you ever see something like this, step in. Don’t look away. Everyone deserves to be exactly who they are. That’s what we radiate.”

Alex released another statement where he gave an update on his injuries. He also encouraged everyone to ‘stand up and take a firm stance whenever someone tries to suppress opinions or beliefs with violence.’

Germany have already clinched top spot in Group E. They will face Ecuador in their final group match on Thursday, June 25.

Die Mannschaft will contest their last 32 match at Boston Stadium on Monday, June 29. Their opponents for the game are currently unknown but, as things stand, they are due to take on Paraguay.

UFC President and CEO Dana White is not afraid of speaking his mind and offending people. A close ally of Donald Trump and a very clear Republican, there are many out there who support him, but also many that strongly dislike the man.

At times, he has surprised many, such as when he didn’t side with Josh Hokit, who called Michelle Obama a man during his interview following his win against Derrick Lewis at the UFC Freedom 250 event on the 14th of June. This seemed like a comment that White would brush off as a joke, but he instead gained respect from many by calling the comment “disgusting.”

But it didn’t take too long for the CEO to lose that respect he’d gained from some fans after he appeared in an interview for Tomi Lahren is Fearless.

Dana White on UFC Hosting Pride Nights

If there is one person to ask about the inclusion of Pride Night within the UFC, it is the big boss himself.

Despite his personal views, White has done a lot for the sport, managing to transform MMA from background noise to a money-making franchise loved by many. He entered his current role in 2001 and has remained a figurehead of the sport ever since. Many athletes come and go, but White has been a constant who doesn’t look to be leaving anytime soon.

When asked about why there are no pride nights within the UFC, however, White replied: “I don’t give a s***. I don’t care what you are or who you are or what you do. We don’t talk about that or any of that stuff.”

The NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NFL all host Pride Nights, making the UFC kind of look like the odd one out. With pretty much all major sports in America hosting these nights, it comes across as quite embarrassing for the UFC to still refuse to be inclusive and open to hosting these events.

White continued discussing the matter by saying: “Everybody do your own thing. I’m just not into it. I let everybody be themselves and do their thing. There’s a lot of things that some of my guys say that I don’t love.”

It seems like fans of Pride Nights and the UFC will have to wait a long time before they see the two combine, but with more pressure being put on White to make the change, it is never out of the question that one day these events might happen.