Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- Austria returns to the World Cup after 28 years since France 1998, while Jordan makes their historic debut on football's grandest stage. This Group J opener sees Pot 3 Austria face Pot 4 Jordan, with both teams knowing Argentina and Algeria await in upcoming fixtures. Ralf Rangnick's side carries momentum from their EURO 2024 Round of 16 run, while Jordan seeks to replicate their stunning 2023 Asian Cup runner-up campaign. Neither team can afford to drop points in this crucial opening match.
- Real Madrid's David Alaba (33, 113 caps, 15 goals) captains Austria from the heart of defense in his first World Cup appearance after a glittering career. The versatile defender boasts 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League triumphs with Bayern Munich, plus two more European Cups at Madrid, having transitioned from left-back to center-back. Tottenham's Kevin Danso (27, Ghanaian heritage, 190cm, 32 caps) provides depth from the bench, while Freiburg's Philipp Lienhart (29, Real Madrid Castilla product, 41 caps, 3 goals) partners in a defense packed with top-five European league quality.
- Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer (32, 98 caps, 26 goals) anchors Austria's midfield as their creative fulcrum. The experienced midfielder's CV includes Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Manchester United (loan), bringing powerful long-range shooting and clinical finishing that makes him the team's attacking talisman. He's set to reach 100 caps during the tournament. Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer (29, versatile right-back option, 57 caps, 7 goals) joins RB Leipzig duo Nicolas Seiwald (25, defensive midfielder, 47 caps, 1 goal) and Xaver Schlager (28, left-footed, Leipzig, 51 caps, 4 goals) to form the 3-4-2-1 system's four-man midfield.
- Jordan's captain Ihsan Haddad (32, Al-Hussein, right-back, 92 caps) brings vast experience as defensive leader, having worn the armband during their remarkable 2023 Asian Cup final run. The backline features K League's FC Seoul defender Yazan Al-Arab (30, center-back, 187cm, 80 caps, 3 goals) as the defensive anchor. Rajaei Ayed (32, Al-Hussein, CDM, 72 caps) provides midfield cover from the bench, while Qatar SC's Nizar Al-Rashdan (27, CM, 185cm, 46 caps, 4 goals) and Malaysia's Selangor player Noor Al-Rawabdeh (29, CM, 67 caps, 3 goals) patrol the center of the park.
- Jordan's striking spearhead Ali Olwan (26, Al-Sailiya, 65 caps, 29 goals) poses the main threat with his exceptional scoring rate, having powered Jordan's 2023 Asian Cup runner-up campaign with crucial goals throughout. Ligue 1 Rennes winger Musa Al-Taamari (number 10, Jordan's sole top-five European league representative) operates on the left flank, using his pace and trickery to create chances. Mohammad Abu Zrayq (number 7) offers additional pace from the bench as Jordan looks to hit Austria on the counter.
- Austria's forward line features record goalscorer Marko Arnautović (37, Red Star Belgrade, 133 caps, 47 goals) lurking on the bench for impact. The veteran striker surpassed Polster's scoring record in 2025 and brings Serie A title-winning experience from Inter Milan. Starting striker Sasa Kalajdžić (28, LASK, 22 caps, 4 goals) stands at 200cm tall, having overcome multiple serious knee injuries during spells at Stuttgart and Wolverhampton. Werder Bremen's Romano Schmid (26, CAM, 34 caps, 3 goals) provides creativity from the second line.
- Austria's 3-4-2-1 meets Jordan's defensive 5-4-1 in a tactical battle for midfield supremacy. Austria's double pivot of Seiwald and Schlager will clash with Jordan's central pairing of Al-Rawabdeh and Al-Rashdan for control, while Laimer provides width as a marauding wing-back. Jordan's five-man defense aims to frustrate Austria's possession game while looking for quick transitions. With both teams likely feeling first-match nerves and adopting cautious approaches, the opening goal could prove decisive in determining the match's trajectory.