Austria return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence when they face tournament debutants Jordan at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. With both sides eager to make a positive start in a challenging Group J that also features defending champions Argentina and Algeria, three points could prove invaluable in the race for a place in the knockout rounds.

Austria Eye Strong Start After Long-Awaited Return

Austria are back on football’s biggest stage for the first time since France 1998 after an impressive qualification campaign that yielded six wins from eight matches. Under the guidance of Ralf Rangnick, Das Team have developed into one of Europe’s most entertaining sides, with the German coach’s high-intensity pressing philosophy transforming their style of play.

Their performances at Euro 2024, where they reached the Round of 16, demonstrated their ability to compete against top opposition, and expectations are growing that Austria can reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 1954.

Confidence is high heading into the tournament after three consecutive victories in warm-up matches, including back-to-back clean sheets against fellow World Cup participants.

Jordan Ready for Historic World Cup Debut

Jordan arrive in North America as one of the tournament’s four debutants, having achieved one of the greatest milestones in the nation’s football history. The Chivalrous Ones secured qualification through an impressive campaign that produced eight wins and saw head coach Jamal Sellami rewarded with Jordanian citizenship by King Abdullah II.

While simply reaching the World Cup represents a landmark achievement, Jordan will be determined to prove they belong among the world’s elite. However, their preparations have been challenging, with no victories from four pre-tournament friendlies and at least two goals conceded in each match.

The positive news for Jordan is that they have continued to pose an attacking threat, scoring five goals across those four games and showing they are capable of troubling stronger opponents.

Head-to-Head

• This will be the first-ever meeting between Austria and Jordan.
• Austria have never previously faced an Asian Football Confederation nation at the FIFA World Cup.

Key Statistics

• Austria have never played out a 0-0 draw in 29 World Cup matches, the longest such streak in tournament history.
• Thirteen of Austria’s last 14 World Cup goals were scored in the second half.
• Four of Jordan’s last five matches saw both teams score.
• Nine of the last 12 goals Jordan conceded in regulation time came after the 30th minute.

Players to Watch

Marcel Sabitzer (Austria)
One of Austria’s most experienced international performers, Sabitzer heads into the tournament in excellent form after scoring in each of his last three friendly appearances. Notably, he opened the scoring in all three matches.

Ali Olwan (Jordan)
Jordan’s leading scorer during qualification, Olwan netted nine goals on the road to the World Cup. His goals directly contributed to six victories and he remains the team’s biggest attacking weapon.

Team News

Austria have suffered a significant setback with Christoph Baumgartner ruled out of the tournament. Dejan Ljubičić has been called up as his replacement.

Jordan will be without Ibrahim Sabra, who withdrew from the squad, with Mohammad Abu Ghosh stepping in ahead of the tournament.

Betting Analysis & Prediction

Austria enter this contest as clear favourites thanks to their superior experience, stronger squad depth, and impressive recent form. However, Jordan’s adventurous approach and ability to create chances suggest they are capable of finding the net, especially against an Austrian side that often commits numbers forward.

Given Jordan’s recent trend of both teams scoring and Austria’s attacking style under Rangnick, an entertaining contest appears likely. Austria should ultimately have too much quality, but a clean sheet may prove difficult to secure.

Prediction: Austria 3-1 Jordan

Best Bet: Austria to Win & Both Teams to Score