2026 World Cup: Austria vs Jordan, Burschen Aim for Perfect Start

Austria vs Jordan. promises an exciting match (photo: gemini ai)

JAKARTA - Austria started their steps at the 2026 World Cup by facing Jordan's debut in Group J match which took place at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, United States, Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 11.00 WIB. This match is crucial for both teams considering that the group competition also involves the defending champions Argentina and Algeria.

For Austria, this is their first appearance in the World Cup final round since the 1998 edition in France. The 28-year wait finally ended after Ralf Rangnick's squad performed impressively throughout the European qualifying round. Meanwhile, Jordan made new history by appearing for the first time in the world's most prestigious football event.

This opening match has the potential to determine the direction of the two teams in the group stage. Where Argentina is seen as the main favorite to grab the top spot in Group J, the fight for the next qualifying ticket is expected to be tight between Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. Therefore, three points in the first match are a very important target.

Austria came to North America with a convincing capital. They won the UEFA qualifying Group H after recording six wins, one draw, and one defeat in eight matches.

Rangnick's team also showed consistency ahead of the tournament by winning three consecutive matches in friendly matches, including a landslide victory over Ghana 5-1 as well as a 1-0 victory over South Korea and Tunisia. The record makes Austria unbeaten in the last five matches.

Veteran player

Austria's success in qualifying for the World Cup is inseparable from the transformation carried out by Rangnick since taking over the national team. The German coach built an identity of an aggressive, high-pressing game, and was able to dominate the rhythm of the match. Austria scored 22 goals and only conceded four times during qualifying, showing a balance between the attack and defense lines.

However, the history of the World Cup has not been too favorable to Austria. From the previous seven participations, their best achievement was finishing in third place in the 1954 edition. In the last nine World Cup matches, Austria was only able to win one victory. This fact shows that they still have to prove themselves capable of competing on the world's biggest football stage.

Austria's hopes rest heavily on the figure of Marko Arnautovic. The 37-year-old veteran striker is the all-time top scorer for the Austrian national team with 47 goals. Eight of Austria's 22 goals during qualifying were scored by Arnautovic, making him the main threat to the opponent's defense. Behind him is Marcel Sabitzer who plays as a creativity engine and has scored three goals and three assists during the qualifying phase.

On the other hand, Jordan comes as one of the most interesting stories in the 2026 World Cup. The team nicknamed the Knights managed to qualify automatically from the third round of the Asian qualifiers after finishing in second place in the group with 16 points, narrowly ahead of Iraq.

Jordan's success

The success continued the rapid development of Jordanian football in recent years. They previously reached the 2023 Asian Cup final and the 2025 Arab Cup final, although they had to settle for runners-up in both events. However, the performance ahead of the World Cup was less convincing because Jordan failed to win in the last five matches. They also conceded 13 goals in that period.

One of Jordan's main strengths is its ability to play disciplined and tight when defending. Coach Jamal Sellami often uses a 3-4-3 formation that turns into a 5-4-1 when losing the ball. This strategy has taken them far in various Asian and Arab tournaments, but its effectiveness is still questionable when facing European teams with higher individual quality.

Jordan also lost one of their most important players, Yazan Al Naimat. The striker, who scored eight goals during the qualifiers, is confirmed to be out due to a knee ligament injury he suffered since the 2025 Arab Cup. The loss of Al Naimat is a big blow because he is the main source of goals for the team.

Instead, the big responsibility will be carried by Mousa Al-Taamari. The winger who plays for Rennes in the French League is the only Jordanian player to appear regularly in one of the five top European leagues. Last season he scored six goals and six assists, while during the World Cup qualifiers he contributed seven goals.

Statistically, Austria is much superior ahead of this match. They are ranked 24th in FIFA, while Jordan is in 63rd place. In the last five matches, Austria won four victories and one draw, while Jordan has never won. Austria also recorded three clean sheets in the last five matches, while Jordan has not recorded any.

This match will also be the first meeting in history between the two countries. There is no record of meetings that can be used as a reference so that both coaches rely on video analysis of the opponent's match during the preparation process.

Prediction

Austria entered the match with a better squad quality, higher international experience, and a much more positive momentum. Rangnick's game system is well formed and has a balance between the defense and attack lines.

Jordan has an advantage in spirit, defensive discipline, and motivation as a debutant. However, the absence of Yazan Al Naimat significantly reduced their ability to attack. Dependence on Mousa Al-Taamari can also make it easier for Austria to shut down the opponent's source of creativity.

Austria's weakness lies in the lack of experience of their core players in the World Cup. In addition, the absence of Christoph Baumgartner due to injury has reduced their attack variety. However, the depth of the Austrian squad is still enough to overcome this problem.

If Austria manages to score first, Jordan will likely find it difficult to get out of the pressure. On the other hand, Jordan's best chance comes through quick counterattacks led by Al-Taamari and Ali Olwan.

With individual quality, competitive experience, and better recent form, Austria are favourites to secure three points in Group J opener.

Prediction: Austria 2-0 Jordan.

Predicted Starting XI

Austria

Alexander Schlager; Konrad Laimer, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene; Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald; Romano Schmid, Marcel Sabitzer, Michael Gregoritsch; Marko Arnautovic.

Jordan

Yazeed Abulaila; Saleem Obaid, Yazan Al-Arab, Abdallah Nasib; Ehsan Haddad, Nizar Al Rashdan, Noor Al Rawabdeh, Mohannad Abu Taha; Mousa Al-Taamari, Ali Olwan, Odeh Fakhouri.

Match Schedule

2026 World Cup Group J

Austria vs Jordan

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, United States

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Kick-off 11.00 WIB