Austria have moved from qualification talk into squad talk for World Cup 2026. This page tracks the announced squad status as of May 20, 2026, the key names, group-stage fixtures and the selection questions that matter before kickoff.
Austria squad status
| Squad detail | Current status |
|---|---|
| Team | Austria |
| Coach | Ralf Rangnick |
| Announcement status | Austria announced a 26-player squad on 18 May 2026. |
| Group | Group J with Argentina, Algeria and Jordan |
| Final FIFA list note | National announcements can still change before FIFA confirms final squad lists around 2 June 2026. |
Key squad story
David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer bring experience.
Konrad Laimer, Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner give Rangnick running power in midfield.
Austria return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Full announced squad list
- Goalkeepers: Patrick Pentz, Alexander Schlager, Florian Wiegele
- Defenders: David Affengruber, David Alaba, Kevin Danso, Marco Friedl, Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene, Stefan Posch, Alexander Prass, Michael Svoboda
- Midfielders: Christoph Baumgartner, Carney Chukwuemeka, Florian Grillitsch, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer, Xaver Schlager, Romano Schmid, Alessandro Schopf, Nicolas Seiwald, Paul Wanner, Patrick Wimmer
- Forwards: Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch, Sasa Kalajdzic
The biggest thing to watch is role clarity. A World Cup squad is not only a list of famous players: it is a minutes plan. Starters, penalty takers, set-piece takers, late substitutes, reserve goalkeepers and defensive cover all affect how far a team can go.
Group-stage fixtures
- 16 June: Austria v Jordan - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
- 22 June: Argentina v Austria - Dallas Stadium
- 27 June: Algeria v Austria - Kansas City Stadium
Austria need enough points across those three matches to finish in the top two or compete strongly in the third-place race. The 48-team format gives more teams a route into the knockouts, but it also makes goal difference and late substitutions more important.
Fantasy, betting and player-watch angle
For fantasy football, the best picks are not always the most famous names. Minutes, penalty duty, clean-sheet probability, set pieces and group strength should decide the shortlist. For betting research, check licensed markets in your country and compare team progress odds with player markets before backing top scorer or award prices.
What can still change
- Injury replacements can alter the final list before the first match.
- A preliminary or expanded squad has to be cut to the permitted final size.
- Club form and late fitness tests can change the starting XI even when the squad list is known.
- Tournament roles can change after the first match if a team needs more control, pace or height.
