Sports · World Cup 2026 · Group J
Jordanvs
Algeria
Monday, June 22, 2026 · 11:00 p.m. ET · San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's Stadium), Santa Clara, CA
Watch: FS1 · Universo
My pick: Algeria win · locked 2026-06-21 10:00 UTCPrediction
Algeria to win. Both sides are still searching for their first points after opening defeats — Jordan losing 3-1 to Austria, Algeria 3-0 to Argentina — making this effectively must-win for each. Vladimir Petković should restore Riyad Mahrez to the XI, and Algeria's individual quality through Mahrez and Amine Gouiri edges a tense Group J clash in the Bay Area. Jordan, buoyed by Ali Olwan's historic first World Cup goal, will keep it tight, but Algeria to win 2-1.
The case for Jordan
28% to winJordan are at their first World Cup and pushed Austria hard before two late goals undid them; Ali Olwan's strike was a historic moment. Jamal Sellami's organised 3-4-3, with Mousa Al-Tamari the danger man, will fancy their chances against an Algeria side that flopped against Argentina. Win, and a debut World Cup knockout place is suddenly alive.
The case for Algeria
41% to winAlgeria have the talent to recover from a chastening night against Argentina, and the return of Riyad Mahrez to the starting XI lifts a side also featuring Amine Gouiri and the rising Ibrahim Maza. Petković's team must show more bite, but their technical edge over Jordan is clear, and a win would put qualification back in their hands going into the final round.
Both cases written 2026-06-21, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 31% belongs to the draw.
Jordan 3-4-34-3-3 AlgeriaThe briefing
Storylines
- Both sides lost their openers and treat this as a must-win: Jordan fell 3-1 to Austria, Algeria 3-0 to Argentina.
- Ali Olwan scored Jordan's first-ever World Cup goal against Austria; the debutants chase a first point in the Bay Area.
- Riyad Mahrez, a surprise benching against Argentina, is expected to return to Algeria's starting XI.
- Played in the open air at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's) on a mild Northern California evening.
The coaches
Jamal Sellami Jordan
The Moroccan coach, appointed in 2024, guided Jordan to a first World Cup and sets up in a compact, counter-attacking 3-4-3.
Vladimir Petković Algeria
The Swiss-Bosnian coach leads an Algeria side rich in attacking talent but still searching for cohesion at the tournament.
Availability
| Abdallah Nasib | Doubt — to be assessed after a knock against Austria | ESPN / Squawka preview · 2026-06-20 |
| Riyad Mahrez | Available — expected to return to the starting XI after being benched v Argentina | Sports Mole preview · 2026-06-20 |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FS1 in English (stream on Fox One, or the Fox Sports app with a TV provider) and Spanish-language coverage on Universo or Telemundo (stream on Peacock); the late slot can shift to Universo. (FOX Sports / NBC News World Cup TV schedule, as of 2026-06-21)
Weather: Open-air at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's) for an evening kickoff — mild and dry Northern California conditions, around 65°F. (NWS Bay Area seasonal climatology (specific forecast not yet cleanly available), as of 2026-06-21)
Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi's Stadium), Santa Clara, CA, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.