Nation dossier · Group J · In contention
Austria
Republic of Austria
Up next Algeria v Austria · Group J
Title probability
0.1%
as of 2026-06-25
Overview
Austria arrive at the 2026 World Cup with genuine belief. After narrowly missing out on Qatar 2022, Ralf Rangnick's high-octane project has reignited a generation that reached the Euro 2024 knockouts and topped a group containing France and the Netherlands.
This is a side built on energy, organisation and German-school professionalism. With David Alaba marshalling the back and a midfield brimming with Bundesliga muscle, the Burschen believe they can finally break their decades-long World Cup drought of progress.
Expectations are tempered but real: escaping the group would be celebrated as a milestone for a nation that hasn't won a World Cup match in years.
Capital
Vienna
Population
9,000,000
Confederation
UEFA
FIFA code
AUT
From Wikipedia
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital Vienna is the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast,…
Source: Wikipedia →Squad
- 122caps
Patrick Pentz
Brøndby · Reliable shot-stopper and number one
- 124caps
Niklas Hedl
Rapid Wien · Promising domestic keeper
- 2340caps
Heinz Lindner
Union Saint-Gilloise · Experienced veteran backup
- 220caps
Philipp Lienhart
SC Freiburg · Solid no-nonsense stopper
- 335caps
Stefan Posch
Bologna · Versatile attacking full-back
- 430caps
Maximilian Wöber
Borussia Mönchengladbach · Composed ball-playing centre-back
- 640caps
Konrad Laimer
Bayern Munich · Tireless converted wing-back
- 8105caps
David Alaba
Real Madrid · Captain and defensive talisman
- 1318caps
Phillipp Mwene
Mainz 05 · Energetic two-way left-back
- 1525caps
Kevin Danso
Tottenham Hotspur · Aerially dominant central defender
- 226caps
Flavius Daniliuc
Salernitana · Young rangy defender
- 780caps
Marcel Sabitzer
Borussia Dortmund · Box-to-box engine and leader
- 1035caps
Xaver Schlager
RB Leipzig · Pressing midfield dynamo
- 1428caps
Nicolas Seiwald
RB Leipzig · Deep-lying tempo setter
- 1640caps
Florian Grillitsch
Hoffenheim · Calm metronome in midfield
- 1740caps
Christoph Baumgartner
RB Leipzig · Goalscoring attacking midfielder
- 1915caps
Romano Schmid
Werder Bremen · Creative attacking midfielder
- 2012caps
Patrick Wimmer
VfL Wolfsburg · Direct dribbling winger
- 54caps
Junior Adamu
SC Freiburg · Pacey vertical runner
- 9115caps
Marko Arnautović
Inter Milan · Veteran focal point and finisher
- 115caps
Marko Raguž
LASK · Poacher in the box
- 1845caps
Michael Gregoritsch
SC Freiburg · Clever target man
- 2118caps
Sasa Kalajdzic
Wolverhampton · Towering aerial threat
Model
as of 2026-06-25Exp. points
4.70
Proj. finish
21.3
Seed Elo
1780
Title-probability trajectory
Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots
Matches
History
2022
Did not qualify / Group stage
Culture
Football culture
Football competes with skiing for national affection, but big matches still fill Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion with passion. The Bundesliga rivalry between Rapid Wien and Austria Wien is fierce, and Red Bull Salzburg's continental rise has modernised the whole ecosystem.
Did you know
- The 1930s 'Wunderteam' was among the most feared sides in Europe.
- The infamous 1954 'Heat Battle' vs Switzerland ended 7-5, a World Cup record.
- Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion is named after a legendary coach and player.
- Red Bull's football empire began in Salzburg, transforming Austrian talent development.
- David Alaba won the Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.