Austria vs Jordan Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Austria are heading back to a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1988 as they take on debutants Jordan in their opening game in Group J.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Austria preview: Strong Austrians
Coached by former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick, Austria won the hearts of many a couple of years ago at UEFA EURO 2024. Their energetic and entertaining style was undermined by a general ineffectiveness, though, that saw them knocked out by Turkiye in the round of 16.
They have dipped in terms of their performance levels since then. The Austrians needed a last-day come-from-behind win against Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualify from what did initially look to be quite a soft draw for them in the autumn.
Jordan preview: Surprise qualifiers
Tunisian boss Jamal Sellami has led what does appear to be a fairly average Jordan side to their first ever FIFA World Cup. The gulf state finished second by Korea Republic in the third round of AFC qualification for the tournament.
Outside of versatile Stade Rennais attacker Mousa Al Tamari, it would be reasonable to suggest that the Jordanians do not possess too much quality and, in what is a tough group for them, sitting back in order to seek control and avoiding hammerings will likely to be their go-to approach.
Austria team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Jordan team news
Team news will appear here closer to the match…
Predicted XI (X-X-X-X): TBC
Unavailable: TBC
Questionable: TBC
Austria’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Marcel Sabitzer ($6.8m) – Midfielder
Carney Chukwuemeka ($5.0m) – Midfielder
Michael Gregoritsch ($6.0m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Marcel Sabitzer
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Marko Arnautovic, Marcel Sabitzer
Free kicks: Marcel Sabitzer
Corners: David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer
Jordan’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Yazan Al Arab ($3.7m) – Defender
Ehsan Haddad ($3.5m) – Defender
Mousa Al-Tamari ($5.6m) – Forward
Matchday 1 captain pick: Mousa Al-Tamari
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ali Olwan
Free kicks: Musa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan
Corners: Musa Al-Taamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi
Key stats
- Austria have returned to the FIFA World Cup stage for the first time since 1998 and make their eighth tournament appearance at the 2026 finals.
- Two-time semi-finalists, Austria finished fourth in 1934 and clinched the final podium place in 1954. Since then, they have only advanced beyond the first stage once – reaching the second group phase at the 1982 edition of FIFA’s flagship tournament.
- Austria have lost their opening match in only two of their seven previous FIFA World Cup participations (W4 D1).
- Jordan made history by securing a place at the FIFA World Cup for the very first time.
- Qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026 comes on the back of Jordan’s landmark run to the AFC Asian Cup final in early 2024, the first time they had reached the decider, where they were beaten by hosts and defending champions Qatar. They also reached the final of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, losing in extra‑time to Morocco.
- At 37 years and 58 days, Marko Arnautovic could become the oldest player to make a FIFA World Cup appearance for Austria, surpassing Michael Konsel, who was 36 years and 109 days when he faced Italy on 23/06/1998.
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Austria vs Jordan prediction
Alongside Argentina and Algeria, this is a tough group for Jordan but also does heap the pressure on an Austria side that haven't been fluent for a while now. Austria have to get off to a winning start and, ahead of their tougher games to come, they could do with winning it well. Jordan will frustrate them and it may not be a thriller for the neutral but the Europeans should get themselves an early three points on the board with a win in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Austria vs Jordan betting tip: Austria to win & under 3.5 goals
