AUT
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP J · POT 3

Austria
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Ralf Rangnick · German head coach since 2022. A pioneer of the high-press and gegenpressing schools at RB Leipzig and Manchester United (interim). Led Austria to the EURO 2024 R16 and a first World Cup in 28 years.
MD1 Jun 16 vs Jordan MD2 Jun 22 vs Argentina MD3 Jun 27 vs Algeria
7th World Cup appearance · best finish: Third place (1954)
26
Squad size
28.2
Avg. age
23 / 26
Overseas-based
0 / 26
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Ralf Rangnick's Austria announced their final 26 on May 18. This is Austria's first World Cup since France 1998 — 28 years on, captain David Alaba (Real Madrid) leads a squad dominated by RB Leipzig, Bayern and Dortmund Bundesliga regulars.

Spine: Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer (Dortmund, 26 international goals and the midfield hub), Marko Arnautović (Red Star Belgrade, 47 goals — all-time top scorer), Konrad Laimer (Bayern), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig). Losing Baumgartner to a pre-tournament injury — with Dejan Ljubičić (Schalke) called up as cover — is a blow, but Rangnick's signature high-press, direct-attack style builds on Austria's EURO 2024 R16 momentum.

Group J fixtures: June 16 vs Jordan (SF) → June 22 vs Argentina (Dallas) → June 27 vs Algeria (KC). Austria targets its deepest run since the 1954 third-place finish in Switzerland.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-2-3-1.

Rangnick's preferred high-press 4-2-3-1. A Laimer + Seiwald double pivot dominates midfield, with Sabitzer driving creativity from the No.10 role. Arnautović or Gregoritsch leads the line, flanked by Wimmer and Schmid. Alaba operates between LB and CB. With Baumgartner injured, even more of the creative load falls on Sabitzer.

4-2-3-1 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

8
CB · DF
David Alaba
Real Madrid · 33 · La Liga
113 caps · 15G WC debut
Captain & elite defender
CAPTAIN
7
ST · FW
Marko Arnautović
Red Star Belgrade · 37
133 caps · 47G WC debut
37yo all-time top scorer
ACE
9
CM · MF
Marcel Sabitzer
Borussia Dortmund · 32 · Bundesliga
98 caps · 26G WC debut
Midfield attacking core
20
CM · MF
Konrad Laimer
Bayern Munich · 29 · Bundesliga
57 caps · 7G WC debut
Pressing engine
3
CB · DF
Kevin Danso
Tottenham Hotspur · 27 · Premier League
32 caps · 0G WC debut
Premier League defensive anchor
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 9
MF MIDFIELDERS 11
FW FORWARDS 3
19
MFCM
Dejan Ljubičić
ClubSchalke 04
NationalityAustria
Age28 (1997-10-08)
Height / Weight184cm / -
FootRight
National TeamAustria
Caps / Goals9 caps · 1G
WC historyDebut
Previous Clubs1. FC Köln, Rapid Wien
Profile
An Austria midfielder at Schalke 04 in the German second tier. The 28-year-old was a late call-up to replace the injured Baumgartner before the tournament. Vienna-born of Bosnian-Croat descent, he came through Rapid Wien and Köln before joining Schalke in January 2026, and works as a tireless box-to-box midfielder in both phases. He has 9 caps and 1 goal.
GROUP J

GROUP J.

ARG
Argentina
POT 1
ALG
Algeria
POT 2
AUT
Austria
POT 3
JOR
Jordan
POT 4
Tue, Jun 16
Jordan vs Austria
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium · Santa Clara, CA
Austria's first World Cup match in 28 years (since France 1998). Three points required vs debutants Jordan — Rangnick's high-press 4-2-3-1 with Alaba conducting.
View lineups →
MD1
Mon, Jun 22
Argentina vs Austria
Dallas Stadium · Arlington, TX
A heavyweight clash with reigning champions Argentina. Containing Messi's side will test the Alaba/Danso pairing and the Laimer/Seiwald midfield.
View lineups →
MD2
Sat, Jun 27
Algeria vs Austria
Kansas City Stadium · Kansas City, MO
Group decider vs Algeria. Containing Africa's quick forwards tests Alaba and Posch's experience — Sabitzer's clinical edge can win it.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group J
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Miami Gardens vs Runners-up Group H
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 88
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 96
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
Runners-up, Group J
  1. Round of 32 Jul 02 · Inglewood vs Winners Group H
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 83
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 94
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
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