FIFA World Cup 2026: Why are final group stage matches of each group taking place simultaneously?

New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): The final round of group stage fixtures of the ongoing FIFA World Cup is finally here, with the final group stage matches for each group taking place simultaneously.

For the reason why the final group stage matches for each group are taking place simultaneously, one needs to go back to the 1982 FIFA World Cup, won by Italy.

During the 1982 tournament, 24 teams played for the first time, divided in six groups of four each, with the top two of each group advancing to the next round. In the group two were then West Germany (now Germany), Austria, Algeria and Chile.

Algeria started off the group by beating West Germany 2-1, suffered a 0-2 loss to Austria before staging a comeback to secure a 3-2 win over Chile on June 24 in their last league stage game.

The group was set to end with West Germany and Austria clashing on June 25, with the former heading into the match with a win and a loss, giving them two points and Austria having won both their games, having got four points. On the other hand, Algeria had won two of its three matches, with four points. Both Algeria and Austria were on the driver’s seat point-wise, with a West Germany loss or draw required to send them both through to round two.

Both European sides, Austria (heading into the match with goal difference of 3, having scored three and conceded none) and West Germany (heading into the match with goal difference of 2, scoring five and conceding three) came into the match knowing that as much as 1-0 West Germany win would send them into the second round, eliminating Algeria (who had a goal difference of 0).

West Germany took the lead in 10th minute with a goal from Horst Hrubesch and after that, both sides slowed down the game, showing no intention to change the scoreline whatsoever, eliminating Algeria out on goal difference. As the match ended, West Germany (goal difference of three, scoring six and conceding three), Austria (goal difference of two, scoring four and conceding two) made it to the next round. West Germany, Austria and Algeria all had four points, with the first two sides getting the advantage of a better goal difference.

After the match, both Austria and West Germany were accused of fixing the result so that they both could get to the second round.

In the later years, this match taking place in Gijon, Spain, was immortalised as “Disgrace of Gijon”. This match led to FIFA revising the match scheduling related rules, making sure that the last league stage matches for each groups respectively take place simultaneously to prevent any chances of another ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ happening somewhere else. (ANI)

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