Austria End 28-Year World Cup Drought with Gritty Win Over Jordan
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Austria marked their return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence with a tense 3-1 victory over debutants Jordan in their Group J opener on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera. The win, secured by a stoppage-time penalty from veteran forward Marko Arnautovic, puts Austria second in the group behind defending champions Argentina, who earlier beat Algeria 3-0.
Match Recap
Austria took the lead on 20 minutes when midfielder Romano Schmid unleashed a thunderbolt that found the back of the net. However, Jordan, appearing in their first-ever World Cup, equalized five minutes after the break when striker Ali Olwan fired a sizzling shot inside the far post, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The match remained level until the 69th minute, when Austria thought they had regained the lead through Arnautovic, who slammed a low shot into the net from a goalmouth scramble. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled that teammate Stefan Posch had handled the ball in the buildup, according to the same source.
Seven minutes later, Austria restored their advantage when Yazan Al-Arab deflected a Marcel Sabitzer corner into his own net. Then, deep into stoppage time, Arnautovic converted a penalty after Saleem Obeid was penalized for handball, sealing the 3-1 win.
"It was a difficult match, but we showed character," said Arnautovic, who netted eight times in qualifying, as quoted by Al Jazeera. "Jordan made it tough for us, but we took our chances when it mattered."
Austria's Road Back
Austria, coached by former Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, topped their qualifying group ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania. Their squad includes captain and centre-back David Alaba, midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, and ever-dangerous midfielder Michael Gregoritsch — all part of the side that finished ahead of France and the Netherlands in their group at Euro 2024.
However, their elimination by Turkey in the round of 16 at that tournament extended a drought in knockout matches at major tournaments dating back to 1954, as noted by Al Jazeera.
Group J Picture
With the win, Austria sit second in Group J on three points, level with Argentina, who top the group on goal difference after Lionel Messi's magical hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria. Jordan are third with zero points, while Algeria are bottom, also without a point.
Austria's next match sees them face the defending champions Argentina, a daunting prospect for Rangnick's side. Jordan will look to bounce back against Algeria in their second group game.
European Contenders at World Cup 2026
The World Cup 2026, which begins on June 11, features 16 UEFA qualifiers, including four previous winners. Italy, a five-time champion, are notably absent for a third consecutive edition, as highlighted by Al Jazeera.
Among the European teams, Spain are ranked number one in the world and are considered the favorite to win the tournament, according to one source. Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona winger, is seen as the poster boy for the Spanish side and has recovered from a hamstring injury in time for their opener.
Other European contenders include France, England, Germany, and the Netherlands, all of whom have strong squads and deep tournament experience. Historically, only Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have broken Europe's dominance, winning the trophy outside the continent.
What's Next
As the group stage unfolds, Austria will need to build on their opening victory to advance from a group that includes the tournament favorites. With Arnautovic in form and a solid core of experienced players, they will hope to end their long wait for a knockout-stage win.
For Jordan, the learning curve will be steep, but their competitive debut against a seasoned European side offers lessons they can carry forward.
_This article is based on reporting by Al Jazeera. Additional context on Spain's standing and Lamine Yamal's fitness comes from a single source and has not been independently verified._