Austria will play its first World Cup match since 1998 on Wednesday morning at 6.00 a.m., taking the field against Jordan in what the country describes as a 28-year return to the tournament.
That number — 28 years — is the clearest metric of why this kickoff matters. Every player in Ralf Rangnick’s squad is making his first World Cup appearance, and Rangnick captured the mood plainly: "Die Vorfreude ist riesig." He also reminded listeners of the gulf in generations when he noted, "Bei der letzten WM-Teilnahme war die Hälfte meines Kaders noch gar nicht auf der Welt."
Rangnick has led the side since May 2022 and brings a recent track record: Austria topped a difficult Euro 2024 group that included France, the Netherlands and Poland, only to have its run ended two years ago with a 1-2 loss to Turkey in the round of 16. He has not dialed down expectations for the World Cup. "Das erste Ziel ist es, die Gruppe zu überstehen. Wenn wir das schaffen, dann wollen wir auch versuchen, weiterzukommen als bei der Euro," he said. He added a frank assessment of the long odds: "Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass wir Weltmeister werden, ist nicht groß. Aber ich sage auch: es ist nicht unmöglich."
The practical stakes for Wednesday are straightforward: a win would give Austria immediate momentum and a first step toward Rangnick’s stated objective; anything less will leave the squad — every member of it new to World Cup pressure — chasing results. Austria will look to midfielders Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager to control tempo; Rangnick has singled out Schlager as "der Mann im Maschinenraum." Fans will also watch forwards such as Sasa Kalajdzic as Austria tries to marry its recent European form with a sharper edge in finishing.
The buildup is complicated by a clear setback. Christoph Baumgartner was ruled out shortly before the tournament by a muscle injury, removing a player Rangnick counted on during the run-up. Baumgartner has nevertheless travelled to the USA and will remain with the squad to support his teammates on site — a sign of continuity but also a reminder that Austria will be without one of its attacking options when the whistle blows.
Rangnick has been candid about the team’s recent near-misses and the task ahead: "Wir hätten deutlich weiterkommen können," he said of past chances, and he has pushed the group toward realistic ambition: survive the group, then push further. How Austria handles Jordan on Wednesday morning will reveal whether this cohort of first-time World Cup players can convert Rangnick’s preparation and Euro experience into the kind of opening performance that keeps the campaign alive.
What comes next is simple and immediate — the match at 6.00 a.m. will set the tone. If Austria can impose structure through Schlager and Seiwald and find its chances in attack, Rangnick’s short-term aim of advancing out of the group looks achievable; if not, the squad’s inexperience and Baumgartner’s absence will make the path out of the group far steeper.
