Austria return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998, and the wait has been worth it. Manager Ralf Rangnick has built one of the most cohesive and tactically disciplined sides in Europe, transforming Austria from perennial also-rans into genuine contenders. The squad is stacked with Bundesliga experience and a core of elite European club players — David Alaba at Real Madrid, Marcel Sabitzer at Borussia Dortmund, Konrad Laimer at Bayern Munich — making this Austria's most competitive World Cup squad in a generation.
Group J: Austria · Jordan · [Group opponents TBC] Opening match: Austria vs Jordan — 17 June 2026, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Full Squad
| Player | Position | Club | Previous World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Schlager | Goalkeeper | Red Bull Salzburg | 0 |
| Florian Wiegele | Goalkeeper | Viktoria Plzen | 0 |
| Patrick Pentz | Goalkeeper | Brøndby | 0 |
| David Affengruber | Defender | Elche | 0 |
| Kevin Danso | Defender | Tottenham | 0 |
| Stefan Posch | Defender | Como | 0 |
| David Alaba | Defender | Real Madrid | 0 |
| Philipp Lienhart | Defender | Freiburg | 0 |
| Phillipp Mwene | Defender | Mainz | 0 |
| Alexander Prass | Defender | Hoffenheim | 0 |
| Marco Friedl | Defender | Werder Bremen | 0 |
| Michael Svoboda | Defender | Venezia | 0 |
| Xaver Schlager | Midfielder | RB Leipzig | 0 |
| Nicolas Seiwald | Midfielder | RB Leipzig | 0 |
| Marcel Sabitzer | Midfielder | Borussia Dortmund | 0 |
| Florian Grillitsch | Midfielder | Braga | 0 |
| Carney Chukwuemeka | Midfielder | Borussia Dortmund | 0 |
| Romano Schmid | Midfielder | Werder Bremen | 0 |
| Christoph Baumgartner | Midfielder | Hoffenheim | 0 |
| Konrad Laimer | Midfielder | Bayern Munich | 0 |
| Patrick Wimmer | Midfielder | VfL Wolfsburg | 0 |
| Paul Wanner | Midfielder | PSV | 0 |
| Alessandro Schöpf | Midfielder | Wolfsberger | 0 |
| Marko Arnautović | Forward | Red Star Belgrade | 0 |
| Michael Gregoritsch | Forward | Brøndby | 0 |
| Saša Kalajdžić | Forward | Wolves | 0 |
Key Players to Watch
David Alaba is the defining figure of this Austria squad — a Champions League winner with Real Madrid who brings world-class composure and leadership to the backline. At 33 he is the most decorated Austrian footballer in history, and this World Cup represents his chance to finally shine on football's biggest stage.
Marcel Sabitzer is the engine of Austria's midfield. His pressing intensity, technical quality and goalscoring threat from deep have made him one of the most complete central midfielders in the Bundesliga. Under Rangnick, he flourishes in a system built around his strengths.
Marko Arnautović remains the captain and emotional leader of this group. Despite his age, the Red Star Belgrade forward still possesses the physicality and quality to create and score at international level, and his experience of managing big-game pressure is invaluable for a squad with no World Cup history.
Christoph Baumgartner is the wild card — a creative, direct attacker who can operate across the front line and whose ability to arrive late into dangerous areas makes him difficult to contain. Expect Rangnick to use him as a key disruption tool.
Group Stage Outlook
Austria return to the World Cup with Rangnick's high-press system fully embedded, which gives them a genuine edge in physical and tactical organisation. Their opening match against Jordan should yield points, and their progression from the group will hinge on how they manage the mental weight of a 28-year absence from this competition.
The Bundesliga spine of this squad — Laimer, Sabitzer, both Schlagers — gives Austria a structural familiarity that more fragmented international squads often lack. If they can replicate even a fraction of the organised aggression they showed in European qualifiers, they can be a disruptive force in the group stage.
Squad Profile
Every player in Austria's 26-man squad is making their first World Cup appearance — a reflection of the 1998 drought. But this is not a naive group. The majority play in the top five European leagues, with significant representation from the Bundesliga and Premier League. This is a squad built on club-level competitiveness, not qualification luck.
FAQ
Who manages Austria at the 2026 World Cup?
Ralf Rangnick, the Austrian tactician who transformed the national team with his high-press philosophy after spells at clubs including RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim and Manchester United.
Is this Austria's first World Cup?
No — Austria have appeared at the World Cup before, most recently in 1998 in France. The 2026 tournament marks their return after a 28-year absence.
Who are Austria's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer and Marko Arnautović are the standout names. Christoph Baumgartner and Carney Chukwuemeka offer creativity and energy in midfield and attack.
When do Austria play their first game at the 2026 World Cup?
Austria open Group J against Jordan on 17 June 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.