The wait is over – Austria knows its group opponents for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
At the ÖFB we look forward to duels with teams we don’t know so well: Argentina, Algeria and Jordan (more on that>>>). The Austrians will meet the latter at the start on June 16th.
“I think it’s a really exciting draw against opponents where you don’t really know where you stand,” says team boss Ralf Rangnick.
Team player Christoph Baumgartner speaks on “Servus TV” of a “very exciting” and “feasible” group. “We have to perform at the top level and we’re extremely happy when it starts.”
“Satisfied that we don’t have an opponent from Europe”
ÖFB sports director Peter Schöttel says: “I’m satisfied that we don’t have an opponent from Europe, but opponents we haven’t played against for a while or not at all.” For example, the ÖFB team last played against Argentina in 1990.
In addition to this aspect, team boss Rangnick also sees other advantages: “It’s also good that we start relatively late. We have enough time to acclimatise. Because we don’t have a playoff opponent, there is clarity. We are really happy, the whole country is in a football euphoria and we can hardly wait for it to get started. We are flying to the region tomorrow or the day after to look at quarters.”
Baumgartner is looking forward to Messi
Christoph Baumgartner is particularly looking forward to Argentina: “I think we’ve got a very exciting group with the current world champion. Against Lionel Messi in what will probably be his last World Cup, that’s something special for us. We’re really looking forward to it. With Algeria, we have a team that certainly has quality, that plays good football and has a lot of quality offensively with Mahrez. We’re certainly the least familiar with Jordan, so we’re definitely expecting something. I think the group is doable for us. We have to go We’re performing at a top level and we’re extremely happy when it starts.”
ÖFB President Josef Pröll thinks: “It is a group that has given us a hard time with the current world champions. In addition, we definitely have opponents in Algeria and Jordan where we have to show our performance. Nevertheless, I believe the group is feasible.”
Stefan Oesen was also not dissatisfied with the draw. “In terms of names, we have an absolute blast with the reigning world champions, so we’re looking forward to it. The other two opponents seem feasible from the names, even if they came through confidently in their qualifications. If we play our game, we’ll be competitive against any opponent,” said the assistant coach.
Oesen also announced that the opponent analysis had already begun. It can be assumed that Algeria will operate with a back four. The Jordanians, on the other hand, rely on a three-man chain and switching moments, according to the ÖFB assistant coach.
ÖFB is looking for a neighborhood
It is already clear that Austria’s first World Cup game after a 28-year break will be against Jordan on June 16th – either in Kansas City or in Santa Clara. It continues on June 22nd in Dallas or Santa Clara against Argentina and on June 27th in Kansas City or Dallas against Algeria. It will be decided on Saturday where Austria will actually play.
Rangnick and a high-ranking ÖFB delegation will stay in the USA in the coming days to find suitable accommodation. As the ÖFB supervisory board chairman Josef Pröll announced before the draw, they wanted “a decision in the next few days” regarding the base camp.
