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Austria return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after winning UEFA Group H under Ralf Rangnick. The German coach has rebuilt the side around an elite Bundesliga-schooled press, with David Alaba leading from centre-back and Marko Arnautović — qualifying top scorer with eight goals — anchoring the attack. A draw against Argentina, Algeria and Jordan in Group J makes the second round attainable rather than guaranteed.
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Austria World Cup 2026 key facts & odds
Confederation
UEFA
First WC appearance
1934
WC appearances
8th (2026)
Best WC finish
Third place (1954)
WC titles
0
Manager
Ralf Rangnick
Captain
David Alaba
Group
J — Argentina, Algeria, Jordan
Outright odds
150/1
To win Group J
9/2
Status
Group stage — won opener 3-1 v Jordan
Austria World Cup 2026 betting odds
Austria are 150/1 outsiders to win the World Cup, as our World Cup winner odds guide shows. But Ralf Rangnick’s side could not have made a better start — a 3-1 win over Jordan, sealed by a stoppage-time Marko Arnautović penalty, gave Austria their first World Cup victory in 36 years and a flying start in Group J.
At 150/1 a tournament win is a long shot, but Rangnick’s well-drilled side are dark horses to spring a surprise in the knockouts. The realistic aim is to reach the latter stages for the first time in the modern era.
Austria to win Group J odds
Argentina are runaway favourites, but the opening win lifted Austria to 9/2 second-favourites to top Group J — and a result against the champions on 22 June would blow the group wide open.
The opening win was a huge step towards the knockouts — with the top two and the eight best third-placed sides advancing under the 48-team format, Austria are now strong favourites to claim the second qualifying spot behind Argentina, around 4/6 to reach the Round of 32.
Market
Best price
Bookmaker
To qualify from Group J
4/6
Paddy Power
Austria stage of elimination odds
With qualification now likely, the market leans towards a Round-of-32 or Round-of-16 exit as Austria’s ceiling — though a deep run is not impossible for a side that has knockout know-how under Rangnick.
Austria top scorer odds
Marko Arnautović, who came off the bench to win the opener, is Austria’s leading hope in the Golden Boot market at around 229/1, with Michael Gregoritsch the other striking option from a side whose goals are shared around.
Odds correct as of 17 June 2026 and subject to change — always confirm the live price before betting. For the full outright market, group winners and golden-boot specials, see our World Cup 2026 betting hub.
World Cup 2026 group and fixtures
Austria are in Group J at the World Cup with reigning champions Argentina, Algeria and debutants Jordan. Ralf Rangnick’s side opened with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Jordan and sit second, level on points with Argentina. With the top two and the eight best third-placed sides advancing under the 48-team format, Austria are well placed to reach the knockouts.
Date
Match
Venue
Kick-off (UK)
Result
16 Jun 2026
Austria vs Jordan
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
20:00 BST
3-1 W
22 Jun 2026
Argentina vs Austria
AT&T Stadium, Arlington
21:00 BST
—
27 Jun 2026
Austria vs Algeria
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
21:00 BST
—
Group J standings
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
Argentina
1
1
0
0
+3
3
Austria
1
1
0
0
+2
3
Jordan
1
0
0
1
-2
0
Algeria
1
0
0
1
-3
0
Standings as of 17 June 2026 — after Matchday 1 (Argentina 3-0 Algeria, Austria 3-1 Jordan). Top two plus the eight best third-placed sides reach the Round of 32.
Austria World Cup 2026 squad
Rangnick’s squad is built around captain David Alaba, the Bayern Munich-honed midfield of Konrad Laimer, Nicolas Seiwald and Marcel Sabitzer, and the experience of striker Marko Arnautović.
Team news: Alaba started at centre-back despite injury concerns; Arnautović came off the bench to win the opener with a stoppage-time penalty. Christoph Baumgartner is ruled out for the tournament. The numbers below are the confirmed FIFA squad list.
Goalkeepers
No.
Player
1
Alexander Schlager
12
Florian Wiegele
13
Patrick Pentz
Defenders
No.
Player
2
David Affengruber
3
Kevin Danso
5
Stefan Posch
8
David Alaba (c)
15
Philipp Lienhart
16
Phillip Mwene
23
Marco Friedl
25
Michael Svoboda
Midfielders
No.
Player
4
Xaver Schlager
6
Nicolas Seiwald
9
Marcel Sabitzer
10
Florian Grillitsch
17
Carney Chukwuemeka
18
Romano Schmid
19
Dejan Ljubičić
20
Konrad Laimer
22
Alexander Prass
24
Paul Wanner
26
Alessandro Schöpf
Forwards
No.
Player
7
Marko Arnautović
11
Michael Gregoritsch
14
Saša Kalajdžić
21
Patrick Wimmer
How Austria will play
Rangnick’s Austria are built on his trademark high-pressing, aggressive 4-2-3-1 — energetic, well-organised and a match for anyone on their day. Against Jordan they had to grind it out, with Romano Schmid’s early opener and Arnautović’s late penalty the difference in a tougher-than-expected win.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Predicted starting XI — 4-2-3-1, based on the side that beat Jordan. Captain: David Alaba.
Manager: Ralf Rangnick
The influential German coach, godfather of the modern gegenpressing school, has transformed Austria into one of Europe’s most cohesive sides. His high-energy system and tactical clarity have made them dangerous opponents, and the opening win was a statement of his side’s progress.
Captain: David Alaba
The Real Madrid defender is Austria’s captain, leader and most decorated player. Versatile enough to play across the back line and midfield, he started at centre-back against Jordan and is the experienced figurehead of Rangnick’s project.
Austria players to watch at World Cup 2026
Marko Arnautović — Forward
The veteran striker proved his worth off the bench against Jordan, winning and converting the decisive stoppage-time penalty. Austria’s experienced focal point in attack.
Konrad Laimer — Midfielder
The Bayern Munich man is the engine of Rangnick’s press — tireless, aggressive and key to how Austria win the ball high up the pitch.
Marcel Sabitzer — Midfielder
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder provides creativity and goals from the centre, pulling the strings in the No. 10 role behind the striker.
How Austria qualified for World Cup 2026
Austria came through European qualifying under Rangnick to reach an eighth World Cup, finishing top of their group ahead of Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Austria’s World Cup history
Austria’s golden era came in the 1930s and 1950s, peaking with third place at the 1954 finals in Switzerland. They have appeared sporadically since, and the win over Jordan was their first at a World Cup since 1990 — a long-awaited return to winning ways on the biggest stage.
The 3-1 win in Santa Clara was Austria’s first World Cup victory in 36 years — Schmid opened the scoring, Jordan levelled through Ali Olwan, before an own goal and Arnautović’s late penalty settled it.
Austria close the group against Algeria in Kansas City, a game that could decide their final position and seeding for the knockouts.
Responsible gambling
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The win over Jordan made Austria around 4/6 to qualify from Group J; the market sees a Round-of-32 or Round-of-16 run as their ceiling, with the title a 150/1 long shot, as of 17 June 2026.
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