Panama and England will play on June 27, 2026 in the World Cup

Road to the 2026 World Cup

Austria joins the list of teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup. It is part of UEFA Group J, under the technical direction of Ralf Rangnick and with David Alaba as captain. The governing federation is the Österreichischer Fußball-Bund (ÖFB).

The team is ranked 24th in the FIFA ranking (updated as of April 1, 2026). Its best historical placement was 10th place between March and June 2016; the worst, 105th in July 2008.

Signs of recent competitiveness

At Euro 2024, Austria finished first in its group, beating France and the Netherlands. They lost in the round of 16 against Türkiye 2-1. That performance demonstrated solidity even against European powers.

Roster and preparation

For the World Cup, Austria called up 26 players. The group will play two previous friendlies: against Tunisia on June 1, 2026 and against Guatemala on June 10, 2026. The match and goal statistics are updated as of March 31, after the duel against South Korea.

Marko Arnautovic leads two categories: he is the player with the most appearances (132) and the team’s top scorer (47 goals).

Continuity and experience

Austria has four World Cup participations, debuting in 2008. However, its recent momentum comes from consecutive qualifications for the European Championship (2016, 2020, 2024) and advancing to the knockout rounds. Under the command of Rangnick and with Alaba as a reference, the team reaches 2026 with a solid record in high competition, including the round of 16 and group leadership in Euro 2024. The preparation outlined with two friendlies in June reinforces its commitment to arrive in optimal conditions.

Absolute dominion of Belgium

The Belgian National Team closed the group stage of the World Cup with a resounding 5-1 victory over New Zealand at BC Place in Vancouver. With this result, the European team secured first place in Group G.

The classification was consolidated after Egypt tied its match against Iran, which left Belgium as the undisputed leader.

Leandro Trossard was the man of the match. The Arsenal attacker opened the scoring in the 28th minute and extended the lead with his double in the 50th minute. In the second half, Kevin De Bruyne added to the scoreboard with a goal in the 66th minute, making it 3-0.

New Zealand achieved the discount, but the Belgian reaction was immediate. Romelu Lukaku, who had just entered, scored in the 86th. Already in stoppage time, he scored the fifth goal to seal the win.

Belgium is emerging as one of the teams to watch in the tournament, with a solid and effective game that promises in the following rounds.

The Egyptian National Team achieved a 1-1 draw against Iran, a result that, combined with Belgium’s 5-1 defeat of New Zealand, left them in second place in Group G. Despite the difficulties, the Pharaohs secured their place in the round of 32 for the first time in their World Cup history.

A high tension match

The team led by Mohamed Salah faced a combative Iran that fought until the end. The Asian team had two goals disallowed, but maintained constant pressure. The scoreboard reflected a vibrant tie that left mixed feelings.

Historical classification

Egypt had never before made it past the group stage of a World Cup. This advance marks a milestone for Egyptian football, which celebrated the achievement with euphoria.

Impact of the Belgium result

Belgium’s overwhelming victory over New Zealand changed the Group G table. The Belgians took first place, while Egypt, despite the tie, managed to advance as second. The New Zealanders and Iranians were eliminated.