Austria face FIFA World Cup debutants Jordan after 28-year absence.
Austria vs Jordan kicks off at 05:00 [GMT+1] on Wednesday, June 17, at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
Austria begin their FIFA 2026 Group J campaign against Jordan in what promises to be an intriguing opening fixture. The last time Austria qualified and played in the World Cup was 28 years ago at France 1998, where they failed to qualify for the knockout stage. Meanwhile, with both nations arriving in strong form, this match could prove crucial in shaping the battle for qualification from a group that also includes Argentina and Algeria. Securing three points here would provide a significant advantage before the more demanding fixtures arrive. Fortunately, Austria will enter the tournament with considerable momentum under former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick. Their recent performances have reflected a side that is becoming increasingly effective at combining attacking intensity with defensive organisation. Across their last 15 matches in all competitions, Austria have recorded nine victories, averaging an impressive 2.4 goals per game while conceding just 0.73. Equally encouraging is their consistency. Austria have avoided defeat in 12 of those 15 matches, demonstrating an ability to remain competitive even when not performing at their best. Rangnick's influence is evident in the team's aggressive pressing approach, with Austria often looking to recover possession high up the pitch and transition quickly into attacking areas. Their record of winning by two or more goals in 38% of their last 39 matches highlights an ability to turn dominance into convincing victories. Marko Arnautovic is expected to lead at the attacking end of a 4—2—3—1 formation.
World Cup debutants Jordan arrive with every reason to believe they can make life difficult for their European opponents. Jamal Sellami's side have quietly built one of the more consistent records among emerging international teams. Jordan have won nine of their last 15 matches, averaging 1.8 goals scored while matching Austria's defensive record of just 0.73 goals conceded per game. Their resilience has been particularly impressive, having gone unbeaten in their last six matches. They avoided defeat in 83% of their previous 30 games across all competitions. In addition, their defensive discipline will be vital in this encounter. While they are unlikely to dominate possession against Austria, their structure and counter-attacking ability could create problems if Austria commit too many players forward. Overall, the tactical battle may revolve around Austria's pressing game against Jordan's ability to play through pressure and exploit space in transition. A 3—4—3 formation with Ali Olwan, Mousa Al Tamari and Odeh Fakhoury in attack is expected against Austria.
