Austria World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Austria World Cup Squad 2026 delivered on its promise, reaching the Round of 32 at Das Team’s first FIFA World Cup since 1998. Ralf Rangnick named his final 26 man roster on May 18, captained by David Alaba with all time record scorer Marko Arnautovic as vice captain. Austria came through Group J behind champions Argentina to book a knockout tie with Spain.
Fourteen of the 26 play in the German Bundesliga, reflecting Rangnick’s roots in that system, with RB Leipzig’s Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner anchoring midfield. Naturalised talents Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven) and Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund) add youth. Austria arrived ranked 24th in the world for an eighth World Cup appearance.
Below is the full roster, group results, updated schedule, qualifying route, head coach profile and Group J outlook.
Austria World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Patrick Pentz | Brondby | 29 |
| GK | Alexander Schlager | Red Bull Salzburg | 30 |
| GK | Florian Wiegele | Viktoria Plzen | 25 |
| DF | David Affengruber | Elche | 26 |
| DF | David Alaba (C) | Real Madrid | 33 |
| DF | Kevin Danso | Tottenham Hotspur | 27 |
| DF | Marco Friedl | Werder Bremen | 28 |
| DF | Philipp Lienhart | SC Freiburg | 29 |
| DF | Phillipp Mwene | Mainz 05 | 32 |
| DF | Stefan Posch | Mainz 05 | 29 |
| DF | Alexander Prass | TSG Hoffenheim | 25 |
| DF | Michael Svoboda | Venezia | 27 |
| MF | Christoph Baumgartner | RB Leipzig | 26 |
| MF | Carney Chukwuemeka | Borussia Dortmund | 22 |
| MF | Florian Grillitsch | Braga | 30 |
| MF | Konrad Laimer | Bayern Munich | 29 |
| MF | Marcel Sabitzer | Borussia Dortmund | 32 |
| MF | Xaver Schlager | RB Leipzig | 28 |
| MF | Romano Schmid | Werder Bremen | 26 |
| MF | Alessandro Schopf | Wolfsberger AC | 32 |
| MF | Nicolas Seiwald | RB Leipzig | 24 |
| MF | Paul Wanner | PSV Eindhoven | 20 |
| MF | Patrick Wimmer | VfL Wolfsburg | 25 |
| FW | Marko Arnautovic (VC) | Red Star Belgrade | 37 |
| FW | Michael Gregoritsch | Augsburg | 32 |
| FW | Sasa Kalajdzic | LASK | 28 |
(C) = captain, (VC) = vice captain. Squad confirmed May 18, 2026.
For all 48 team final selections, see the World Cup 2026 squads list.
Quick Stats
- Average age: 28.1 years
- Most capped and top scorer: Marko Arnautovic (132 caps, 47 goals)
- Youngest: Paul Wanner (20). Oldest: Marko Arnautovic (37)
- German Bundesliga players: 14
- Naturalised dual nationals: Paul Wanner, Carney Chukwuemeka
Key Players to Watch
Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade): Austria’s record scorer (47) and most capped player (132) opened his first World Cup with a goal against Jordan at the age of 37. He leads the line as Rangnick’s target man.
David Alaba (Real Madrid): The captain returned from a long knee injury to anchor the defence as left centre back. With more than 110 caps, his composure on the ball gives the backline a calm reference point.
Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund): Austria’s second highest scorer drives the midfield with box to box energy and pressing aggression, and remains one of Rangnick’s most trusted players.
Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich): The engine of Rangnick’s press. The Bayern man covers more ground than almost anyone in the squad and sets the tempo for Austria’s high intensity game.
Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven): Fast tracked at 20 after switching from Germany’s youth setup, the attacking midfielder brings direct running and genuine creativity off the bench or in the starting XI.
Notable omissions included Leopold Querfeld, Samson Baidoo, Maximilian Wober and Andreas Weimann.
Austria World Cup 2026 Schedule and Results
Austria played all three Group J games in the United States and now continue in the knockout rounds. Here is the full match log with the Round of 32 fixture against Spain.
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16 | Group J | Jordan | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | Won 3-1 |
| June 22 | Group J | Argentina | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | Lost 0-2 |
| June 27 | Group J | Algeria | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | Drew 3-3 |
| July 2 | Round of 32 | Spain | Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood | 3:00 p.m. ET (to play) |
The Spain tie kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT). See the full calendar on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Austria World Cup Squad 2026 Results and Performance
The Austria World Cup Squad 2026 opened with a confident 3-1 win over debutants Jordan in Santa Clara, with Arnautovic among the scorers.
A 2-0 loss to defending champions Argentina followed in Arlington, leaving qualification to the final round. A dramatic 3-3 draw with Algeria in Kansas City then sealed second place on goal difference and a spot in the Round of 32.
Austria finished on 4 points, level with Algeria but ahead on goal difference, behind an unbeaten Argentina. Below is the final Group J table.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 | Winners |
| 2 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | Runners up |
| 3 | Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 | Best third place |
| 4 | Jordan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 | Eliminated |
Next up is a heavyweight Round of 32 clash with Spain, the Group H winners, on July 2 at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood. A win would send Austria into the round of 16 for the first time since the 1982 tournament.
How Austria Qualified for World Cup 2026
Austria won UEFA qualifying Group H with 19 points from eight games, finishing two clear of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ahead of Romania, Cyprus and San Marino. Rangnick’s side won six, scored 22 and conceded just four, with their only loss a 1-0 defeat in Bucharest on October 12, 2025.
The signature result was a 10-0 rout of San Marino in Vienna on October 9, 2025, with four goals from Arnautovic. Qualification was sealed on November 18, 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia, Michael Gregoritsch equalising in the 77th minute to lock up top spot and Austria’s first World Cup place in 28 years.
Head Coach: Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick, 67, took charge of Austria in 2022 and has now guided the country through two straight major tournaments. The German previously managed Stuttgart, Hannover, Schalke and Hoffenheim, had an interim spell at Manchester United, and spent years shaping the Red Bull football network that developed several of his current players, including Sabitzer, Laimer, Seiwald, Baumgartner and Xaver Schlager.
His Austria play an intense 4-2-3-1 built on gegenpressing and a high defensive line, winning the ball back quickly and building through the thirds. After reaching the Euro 2024 round of 16, escaping a tough World Cup group is the next milestone.
FAQ About the Austria World Cup Squad 2026
How did Austria perform at the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Austria reached the Round of 32 as Group J runners up with 4 points. They beat Jordan 3-1, lost 2-0 to Argentina, and drew 3-3 with Algeria to finish second on goal difference behind champions Argentina.
Who does Austria play in the World Cup 2026 Round of 32?
Austria face Spain, the Group H winners, on July 2 at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood, California. Kick off is 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.
Who is in the Austria World Cup Squad 2026?
Ralf Rangnick named a 26 man squad on May 18, captained by David Alaba with Marko Arnautovic as vice captain. It features Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, Kevin Danso, Christoph Baumgartner, Nicolas Seiwald and naturalised talents Paul Wanner and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Which channel broadcasts Austria’s World Cup 2026 matches in the US?
Austria matches air on the FOX family of networks in the United States, including FOX and FS1, with streaming on the FOX Sports app. Spanish language coverage is on Telemundo.
How did Austria qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Austria won UEFA qualifying Group H with 19 points from eight games, finishing two clear of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach their first World Cup since 1998.
When did Austria last play at a World Cup?
Austria last appeared at the 1998 World Cup in France. The 2026 tournament ends a 28 year absence and is their eighth World Cup appearance overall.
The Austria World Cup Squad 2026 has already justified its billing, escaping a group with Argentina and Algeria to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in a generation. Rangnick’s disciplined, Bundesliga hardened side is built on a pressing system he has run for more than three years.
Now comes the biggest test. If the press clicks early and Arnautovic stays sharp, Austria can upset Spain and turn their first World Cup since 1998 into a genuine run.
