Austria
AUT · UEFA
Head Coach
Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick leads Austria into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with guiding the squad through a competitive Group J and beyond. The coaching staff has been preparing tactical approaches tailored to the expanded 48-team tournament format.
Group Stage Venue
Atlanta
Austria will play their group stage matches in Atlanta. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — with matches spread across 16 world-class venues.
Squad (26 players)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Recent Form & Current State
Austria qualified through UEFA qualification under Ralf Rangnick and have become one of Europe's most improved teams. They impressed at Euro 2024 with their high-pressing style and beat the Netherlands. Rangnick's tactical approach has transformed the team.
Form heading into a major tournament is often a key indicator of how far a team can progress. Austria, currently ranked #24 in the FIFA World Rankings, will look to carry momentum from their recent qualifying and friendly campaigns into the group stage. Consistency in results and squad cohesion built during the qualification cycle will be vital assets. The UEFArepresentatives will be eager to demonstrate their quality on the world's biggest stage in 2026.
World Cup History
Austria have appeared in seven World Cups. Their best finish was third place in 1954 in Switzerland. Their most recent World Cup appearance was in 1998. They return to the tournament after a 28-year absence.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and Austria's history in the competition provides important context for their 2026 campaign. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, every nation faces both new opportunities and new challenges in the revamped group stage format featuring groups of four with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout round. Austria will aim to write a new chapter in their World Cup story at this historic edition of the tournament.
Group J Opponents
Austria faces Argentina and Algeria and Jordan in Group J. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Group dynamics, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups will all play a role in determining which teams progress from this stage.