Austria return after 28-year absence to face debutants Jordan in World Cup Group J
Austria end a 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance when they meet Jordan, making their tournament debut, in Santa Clara on Tuesday night.
Group J of the expanded 48-team World Cup gets under way at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium with Austria, ranked 24th, taking on 65th-ranked Jordan. Austria last appeared at the tournament in 1998 and return after topping a UEFA qualifying group ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jordan booked their first ever World Cup spot by finishing second behind South Korea in Asian qualifying, building on the momentum of a maiden Asian Cup final appearance in 2023.
Coach Ralf Rangnick's Austria are expected to deploy a high-intensity press, with veteran striker Marko Arnautović critical to their qualifying campaign and Marcel Sabitzer providing creativity. Jordan, nicknamed Al-Nashama, will rely on a solid defence and quick counterattacks. The group also includes defending champions Argentina and Algeria, with Austria and Jordan contesting one of the likely two remaining knockout-stage berths.
