CORNERFLICK
Nearly 15 World Cup 2026 matches have already changed in stoppage time at the end of the second half, underlining how heavily added time has shaped the tournament.
Referees have been instructed to account fully for lost time, following FIFA’s push for longer second-half stoppages. That has kept teams alive until the last seconds, but it has also cost others a chance of victory or qualification right at the end.
Iran were among the sides hit by a late twist. Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had put Iran ahead against Egypt in the third minute of added time, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.
Another group-stage example came in Algeria’s meeting with Austria, where a late goal altered the result and affected the qualification picture.
The knockout rounds have followed the same pattern. In the first round of 16 match, Canada beat South Africa with a 90+2 winner, sending the hosts through and eliminating the African side.
The message from the opening games is clear: matches in 2026 are not over at 90 minutes. Concentration has to last into stoppage time, because results, progression and elimination are all being decided there.