And just like that, the group stage is done and dusted!

What a way for things to come to an end.

However, there will be no rest of the wicked - the knockout stages get underway tomorrow morning!

It's South Africa vs Canada at 5am AEST.

See you then!

What a way to end the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Austria and Algeria become the final teams to book their places in the knockout rounds - they'll take on Spain and Switzerland, respectively.

Here's a look at the full bracket for the first round of knockout stage matches.

Well, it was the kind of final group-stage matchup that FIFA probably most feared in the leadup to the tournament, with both Algeria and Austria only needing a draw to progress.

And there were certainly periods of today's match that harkened back to 1982's 'Disgrace of Gijon', when Austria and West Germany, knowing a 1-0 win for West Germany would send both sides through, conspired to knock Algeria out of the tournament.

But, thankfully for everyone involved, that wasn't the story of today's game, with some poor defending, some stellar strikes and some high drama combining to create one of the most unique football matches I've ever seen.

It was certainly a strange game, but one that suggests a 48-team World Cup may well have legs.

Austria completes the great escape in Kansas City, and its players can hardly believe it.

Some are doubled over and others are stretched out on the turf as they grapple with a match that very nearly went terribly, terribly wrong.

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It is such a cruel ending for Iran.

Team Melli would have barely had time to celebrate that second Riyad Mahrez goal before Sasa Kalajdzic sent them crashing out of the tournament.

All of that, of course, came after Iran's agonising 1-1 draw with Egypt yesterday, in which the Iranians both had a goal chalked off and hit the crossbar in second-half stoppage time.

A win in that game would have sent them through regardless of today's results.

Has anyone seen anything close to what we've just witnessed in Kansas City?

I certainly haven't.

Here's a quick recap of that wild 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria, which saw both teams advance and eliminated Iran:

• Austria and Algeria began the match knowing a draw would be enough to send both sides through, while a result either way would send the losing side out, with Iran progressing in its place
• The first quarter of the game played out like a training drill, with the teams combining for just 0.02 expected goals before the first-half hydration break
• Then, the game burst into life, with Marko Arnautovic putting Austria ahead
• Needing a goal, the Algerians equalised in the shadows of halftime, making the most of a fortuitous rebound off the corner flag
• Algeria started the strongest after halftime, but Austria went ahead once again when Marcel Sabitzer scored a stunning volley
• Algeria equalised once more through Riyad Mahrez, with the superstar side-footing home his first World Cup goal
• The game slowed to an absolute crawl after the second-half hydration break, with Austria dropping very deep, all-but giving up on playing football, and Algeria content knocking the ball around midfield
• From nowhere, deep into stoppage time, Mahrez once again struck to put Algeria ahead for the first time and send Austria on course for a group-stage exit
• But, remarkably, with the last attack of the game, Austria equalised, with Sasa Kalajdzic heading home after a long ball forward
• The goal sent both Austria and Algeria through, while it sent the desperately unlucky Iranians tumbling out of the tournament.

And just like that, the group stage is over.

Algeria becomes the final third-placed side to qualify for the Round of 32 after those frankly ridiculous scenes in Kansas City.

Iran the desperately unlucky team to miss out.

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That was one of the most ridiculous, one of the most bizarre, games of football I have ever seen.

Sasa Kalajdzic last-gasp header sends Austria into the knockout stages, only moments after Riyad Mahrez looked destined to have knocked the Europeans out.

All that came after 20 minutes of the most tepid, conservative football you will ever be likely to see, with Austria dropping incredibly deep and Algeria content to knock the ball around midfield.

It ends 3-3 in Kansas City.

The Austrian players are on their knees, on their backs, in the middle of the field, doubled in relief and in disbelief.

Iran, the unluckiest of third-placed finishers in World Cup history, eliminated with the final touch of the group stage and after the cruellest of rollercoasters.

I honestly don't think I've ever seen anything like this.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KANSAS CITY!?

This is remarkable.

Austria pumps the ball forward and it's Sasa Kalajdzic on hand to head the ball in with the last touch of the game!

Austria still alive!

Iran, so cruelly, eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

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Lionel Messi came off the bench to score his sixth goal of the World Cup as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Dallas.

Argentina went in front on 19 minutes after being awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Giovani Lo Celso stepped up to curl a shot into the top corner.

The South Americans extended their lead after 29 minutes from the penalty spot.

Marcos Senesi was fouled as he attempted to get a header on goal, with Lautaro Martinez tucking the penalty away.

Jordan pulled a goal back when a fantastic ball across the face of goal was tucked away by Mousa Al Tamar.

Messi came on with 30 minutes left to a huge ovation from the Dallas crowd.

The crowd erupted when he curled a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner on 80 minutes.

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CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

After a good 15 minutes of uncontested Algerian possession, Riyad Mahrez is slipped through on the right hand side of the penalty area.

He side foots his shot home and Algeria leads 3-2!

Algeria, after a good five minutes of uncontested possession, is awarded a freekick halfway between the Austrian goal and halfway.

It's an opportunity for an audacious long-range effort or a floated ball into the penalty area.

Instead, it's passed square before the cross is eventually made.

There's an Algerian body offside.

I've never been more aware of the painstaking, relentless passage of time than I have in the last 10 minutes.

At least we didn't get 90 minutes of this.

The records keep tumbling for the 39-year-old.

He's the first man ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.

It's a training drill in Kansas City.

Just shake hands now, guys.

This looms as a disappointing finale to what had been, against all the odds, a pretty entertaining game.

Algeria with all the ball.

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That's what the crowd came to see.

What more can you say about Lionel Messi???

Argentina gets a free-kick.

Up steps Messi who curls it around the wall and into the bottom corner.

That's his sixth goal of the tournament.

The Golden Boot is his at the moment.

Austria has dropped extremely deep and basically given up on playing football, while Algeria is content to stroke the ball around the midfield.

This must be an excruciating watch for Iranian fans.

We're back for the final stanza of the group stage.

And just in case there was any doubt surrounding how Algeria would approach the last 25-or-so minutes, they've brought on three defenders.

It is Samir Chergui, Zineddine Belaid and Rayan Ait-Nouri on, with centre-forward Amine Gouiri off, as well as Jaouen Hadjam and goalscorer Rafik Belghali.