Austria
🌍 World Cup Story
Austria have a surprising World Cup pedigree from the early era — they finished third in 1954 in Switzerland and are one of the original European powers. From the 1960s to 1990s they qualified regularly (1958, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998) with moderate success. After 1998 they went through a long fallow period, missing multiple tournaments. Their modern revival is real: at Euro 2024 in Germany they won their group — finishing above France and the Netherlands. David Alaba, despite a serious knee injury, remains their leader; Marcel Sabitzer (Manchester United/Dortmund) is a powerhouse; Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich) brings elite energy. This is Austria's best generation in decades, and a first World Cup in 28 years. They are one of the tournament's most intriguing teams.
📌 2026 Context
On the rise — topped a Euro 2024 group containing France and the Netherlands, with an aggressive pressing identity.
⭐ Stars to Watch
👕 Squad
🧤 Goalkeepers
Patrick Pentz
Bayer Leverkusen
Heinz Lindner
Eintracht Frankfurt
Alexander Schlager
LASK
🛡️ Defenders
Gernot Trauner
Feyenoord
Philipp Lienhart
SC Freiburg
Maximilian Wöber
Leeds United
Stefan Posch
Bologna
David Alaba⭐
Real Madrid
Christopher Trimmel
Union Berlin
⚙️ Midfielders
Marcel Sabitzer⭐
Borussia Dortmund
Florian Grillitsch
Hoffenheim
Christoph Baumgartner
RB Leipzig
Nicolas Seiwald
RB Salzburg
Konrad Laimer⭐
Bayern Munich
⚡ Forwards
Marko Arnautović
Inter Milan
Guido Burgstaller
SK Rapid Wien
Michael Gregoritsch
SC Freiburg
Sasa Kalajdzic
Wolfsburg