As the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage enters its decisive phase, a noticeable feature in the schedule is that all final games for each group will be played simultaneously.

A number of teams, including co-host USA, Mexico and Germany, have qualified for the round of 32, while others must wait for the conclusion of the games to see if they will advance or if they are eliminated.

Unlike the opening two rounds, where matches are played separately, all games in each group’s final round will kick off at the same time. The decision stems directly from events that unfolded more than four decades ago.

The practice, which is now a standard part of the World Cup and other football cup games, was introduced following one of the most controversial matches in the tournament’s history.

At the 1982 World Cup, the final Group 2 match between West Germany and Austria was played a day after Algeria and Chile had completed their group-stage campaigns. With the earlier result known, both European sides were fully aware of the outcome required to progress.

Algeria and Austria were level on four points at the top of the group, while West Germany had two points after one win and one defeat. A West German victory would send both European nations through at Algeria’s expense.

West Germany took the lead in the 10th minute through Horst Hrubesch, a result that suited both teams. With qualification effectively secured for both sides, the intensity of the contest noticeably dropped as players from both teams appeared content to preserve the scoreline, exchanging passes with little attacking intent and rarely challenging for possession.

The encounter later became known as the “Disgrace of Gijón” and remains one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history.

Referee Bob Valentine, who officiated the game, recalled years later how he sensed something was amiss.

“We were about 20 minutes in before I started getting a bad feeling,” Valentine told The Athletic in 2022.

“Then one guy got over the halfway line, stopped with the ball and sent it all the way back to his goalkeeper. Instead of putting it into the opposition box, he played it backwards. That was the moment when I realised something was wrong.”

The match ended 1-0 in favour of West Germany, a result that sent both West Germany and Austria into the next round while eliminating Algeria.

Despite protests from the Algerians, FIFA ruled that no rules had been broken and declined to overturn the result. However, the backlash was so severe that football’s governing body introduced a major change to prevent similar situations from recurring.

Since the 1986 World Cup, final group-stage matches have been played simultaneously, ensuring that teams cannot tailor their approach based on the result of an earlier game.

Reflecting on the lasting impact of the controversy, Valentine said the events of June 25, 1982, changed football forever.

“It changed football forever,” he said.

“What happened that day embarrassed the organisers of the World Cup so badly they changed the rules to make sure it could never happen.”

Vanguard News

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