Austria World Cup 2026 squad: Ralf Rangnick's latest selection as Das Team prepare for Group J

The Austria World Cup squad will complete a long overdue return to the World Cup when they take on Jordan in June.

Their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign was notable for a 10-0 win over San Marino in October 2025 and Austria will fancy their chances of progressing from the group stage despite being drawn against one of the favourites in the form of defending champions Argentina.

The 2022 winners will have one of the strongest squads in the tournament but Austria are more than capable of causing big problems for both Algeria and Jordan.

Austria have established themselves in the European Championship, reaching the knock-out rounds in each of the last two tournaments, but they haven't qualified for the World Cup since 1998. A defeat and two draws sent them home early from France.

The Austrian Bundesliga has been producing young talents for years now but the bulk of the senior squad tends to come largely from the German version. Rangnick can call upon a wealth of solid professionals from over the border but it could be the youngsters playing domestically that define Austria's tournament.

Real Madrid’s David Alaba is Austria's captain and has had to spend most of his international career fulfilling a different tactical role than he does at club level. Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer has evolved into a formidable leader for club and country.

Sabitzer moved from Rapid Vienna to Red Bull Salzburg as a young player. He's one of many Austrian internationals educated within the Red Bull multi-club system. Rangnick led the football operations for the MCO for years and his national team selections reflect its influence in the game.

Squad

Austria World Cup 2026 squad: the latest selection

• GK: Alexander Schlager (Red Bull Salzburg)
• GK: Tobias Lawal (Genk)
• GK: Patrick Pentz (Brondby)
• GK: Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Plzen)
• DF: Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen)
• DF: Kevin Danso (Tottenham Hotspur)
• DF: Stefan Posch (Mainz 05)
• DF: David Alaba (Real Madrid)
• DF: Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg)
• DF: Phillipp Mwene (Mainz 05)
• DF: Max Wober (Werder Bremen)
• DF: Alexander Prass (TSG Hoffenheim)
• DF: Michael Svoboda (Venezia)
• DF: David Affengruber (Elche)
• MF: Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig)
• MF: Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig)
• MF: Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund)
• MF: Florian Grillitsch (Braga)
• MF: Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen)
• MF: Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig)
• MF: Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich)
• MF: Patrick Wimmer (VfL Wolfsburg)
• MF: Alessandro Schopf (Wolfsberger AC)
• MF: Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund)
• MF: Paul Wanner (PSV)
• FW: Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade)
• FW: Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg)
• FW: Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK)

Fixtures

• March 27, 2026: Austria vs Ghana, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
• March 31, 2026: Austria vs South Korea, Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria
• June 01, 2026: Austria vs Tunisia, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
• June 16, 2026: Austria vs Jordan, Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States
• June 22, 2026: Argentina vs Austria, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
• June 27, 2026: Algeria vs Austria, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, United States
• September 24, 2026: Austria vs Israel, Venue TBD, Austria
• September 27, 2026: Austria vs Kosovo, Venue TBD, Austria
• October 01, 2026: Republic of Ireland vs Austria, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
• October 04, 2026: Kosovo vs Austria, Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo
• November 14, 2026: Austria vs Republic of Ireland, Venue TBD, Austria
• November 17, 2026: Israel vs Austria, Venue TBD

Recent Results

• November 18, 2025: Austria 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
• November 15, 2025: Cyprus 0-2 Austria, Alphamega Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus
• October 12, 2025: Romania 1-0 Austria, Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania
• October 09, 2025: Austria 10-0 San Marino, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
• September 09, 2025: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Austria, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• September 06, 2025: Austria 1-0 Cyprus, Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria
• June 10, 2025: San Marino 0-4 Austria, San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino
• June 07, 2025: Austria 2-1 Romania, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
• March 23, 2025: Serbia 2-0 Austria, Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade, Serbia
• March 20, 2025: Austria 1-1 Serbia, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria

Manager

Who is Austria's manager?

Ralf Rangnick, now 67, has been in coaching for more than 40 years. The Austrian national team job is the German’s first permanent head coach role outside his home nation but his dugout CV barely scratches the surface.

Rangnick has managed Stuttgart, Hannover, Schalke and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga but has also followed an unorthodox path since the turn of the century, taking on a temporary role in England with Manchester United in 2021 as well as leading the expansion and development strategy for Red Bull.

He was appointed as Franco Foda’s successor in the Austria job in 2022 and has secured qualification for two consecutive major tournaments. None of his predecessors can make the same claim.

Star player

Who is Austria's star player?

He’ll be 37 years old by the time the World Cup begins but Marko Arnautovic will finally get his moment at the greatest show on Earth and it seems like exactly the kind of stage that will suit him.

There are other major stars in the Austria squad but Arnautovic is a hogger of the spotlight and goes into the World Cup having scored twice as many goals in qualifying as teammate Michael Gregoritsch.

The former Inter Milan and West Ham United forward is a giant of modern Austrian football. He holds the records for the most caps and the most goals, including eight in Group H to help take Das Team back to the World Cup finals. Arnautovic has had a remarkable, fascinating career. He’ll be confident of going out on a high.

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