On a rainy day in Sydney's Surry Hills, a small crowd rushed into Cafe Tanja, draped in the green and white flag of Algeria, gathering around a TV with dreams of seeing their country make the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 12 years. The cafe, serving Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian cuisine, buzzed with nervous energy as fans exchanged greetings in French and sipped small plastic cups of tea. The smell of spices wafted through the air as flames burst from a pan in the kitchen.
Nail-biting Match and Historic Qualification
The atmosphere was tense because a loss would mean elimination for Algeria, who had been waiting for a chance to play Austria since the 'Disgrace of Gijón' in 1982, when West Germany's 1-0 win over Austria knocked Algeria out on goal difference. As the first half began, food poured out of the kitchen, including spicy merguez sausages with potatoes and sauce in baguettes. Groans erupted when Austria scored an early goal, but just before half-time, cheers from upstairs confused those downstairs—the live stream was behind. After a minute, the goal was shown, and the cafe jumped for joy, chanting 'one, two, three, we love Algeria.'
Community and Connection at Cafe Tanja
Abdou, 25, originally from France, had ventured to the World Cup in Los Angeles to watch Algeria beat Jordan before arriving in Australia two days ago. He found Cafe Tanja through Instagram and wanted to be among fellow countrymen for the final group game. Billy, 38, who moved to Australia from Algeria more than 10 years ago, said the cafe is 'a good place to eat' and connect with his heritage. 'I love the homemade food. It reminds me of my culture and my adjoining heritage,' he said.
Late Drama and Celebration
During the second half, both teams scored in quick succession, making it 2-2. With two minutes to go, Riyad Mahrez scored for Algeria, sparking pandemonium—chants were sung, and stools turned into drums. The joy was short-lived as Austria equalised in the last seconds, but the 3-3 draw sent Algeria through to the round of 32. Laughter and cheering filled the cafe as fans celebrated their team's progress.
A Family-Run Hub for the Community
Cafe Tanja co-owner Sanah Djebli, 34, moved to Australia more than 10 years ago and runs the cafe with her family. 'We lost my brother four years ago. He left us some money and it was always my mum's dream to open a cafe. And because I was living in Australia we wanted to do it here – we wanted to do something for our community,' she said. As the cafe cleared out, fans expressed hope and excitement, with many saying they would return for the next game.
