FIFA Ranking #24 · 8 World Cups · Best: Third place
Austria under Rangnick play one of the most exciting and intense pressing games in European football. Their Euro 2024 quarter-final run showed they can compete with the best, and Group K gives them a clear path to the knockouts. Alaba's leadership combined with Baumgartner's creativity makes them Group K favourites.
Group J opponents
David Alaba
⭐ Star PlayerReal Madrid
Centre-Back / Midfielder
95
Caps
17
Goals
34
Age
Real Madrid's versatile star who is Austria's most decorated player — three Champions League medals and the anchor of everything the team does.
Marcel Sabitzer
Borussia Dortmund
Midfielder
70
Caps
22
Goals
31
Age
Technically excellent box-to-box midfielder with a powerful long-range shot — one of Austria's most creative central players.
Christoph Baumgartner
RB Leipzig
Attacking Midfielder / Forward
40
Caps
14
Goals
25
Age
Leipzig's exciting attacking midfielder who scored multiple times at Euro 2024 and has become Austria's key creative outlet.
Marko Arnautović
Inter Milan
Striker
105
Caps
36
Goals
37
Age
Austria's all-time top scorer — a big-game player whose experience, hold-up play, and goals have defined Austrian football for a decade.
All times local to venue. Group stage results determine knockout seedings.
Jordan
FIFA #86
Levi's Stadium
San Francisco, CA
Argentina
FIFA #1
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
Algeria
FIFA #31
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, MO
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8
Appearances
0
Titles
#24
FIFA Rank
Third place
Best Result
Austria's greatest World Cup era was the 1950s — third place in 1954 under Ernst Ocwirk and Ernst Stojaspal's generation. Note: the legendary 'Wunderteam' belongs to the 1930s under Hugo Meisl, a different but equally storied era. A long spell in the wilderness ended when Rangnick transformed them into a pressing, high-intensity side, returning to major tournament relevance at Euro 2024.
Formation
Double pivot for solidity, one No.10 behind the striker
Head Coach
Ralf Rangnick
German · 4-2-3-1
Ralf Rangnick leads Austria into the 2026 World Cup with a 4-2-3-1 system built around the squad's strengths.
The three teams Austria must face in the group stage.
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