Austria are at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.
A 28-year wait that ended under German coach Ralf Rangnick, who has transformed Austrian football since taking the job in 2022 into one of the most organised and difficult-to-beat national teams in Europe.
Austria topped their European qualifying group H with 19 points, were the only team to beat Germany in qualifying, and beat France twice in the UEFA Nations League along the way.
Since Euro 2024, Austria have the lowest pass completion rate allowed of any team in the entire 2026 World Cup field — just 73.8% — which reflects Rangnick’s aggressive, high-press system at its most effective.
Austria are in Group J alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan.
They open against Jordan on June 17 in San Francisco, then face Argentina in Dallas, before closing against Algeria in Kansas City.
Here are the 10 best soccer players from Austria at the 2026 World Cup.
1. David Alaba — Defender (Captain)
Position: Defender/Centre-Back
Age: 33 | Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
David Alaba is Austria’s captain and the most decorated player the country has ever produced.
The Real Madrid defender has won the Champions League four times — twice with Bayern Munich and twice with Real Madrid — making him one of the most trophy-laden defenders in football history.
He missed Euro 2024 entirely with a knee injury but has returned fully fit for this tournament, finally getting his first World Cup at 33.
He gives Rangnick the kind of world-class leadership and defensive authority that only a handful of players in world football can provide.
He is one of the best defenders Europe has produced in his generation and one of the most decorated players at this entire World Cup.
He is also one of the best left-footed defenders in football history.
2. Marko Arnautović — Forward
Position: Striker
Age: 37 | Club: Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Marko Arnautović is Austria’s all-time top scorer with 47 goals in 133 caps and one of the most iconic players in Austrian football history.
At 37, this is almost certainly his final World Cup and he has been determined to make it count.
He scored 8 goals in just 7 qualifying matches with 16 shots on target from 16 attempts — a clinical, ruthless finishing performance that broke his own Austrian qualifying scoring records.
Despite injury problems this season, he has still managed 7 direct goal contributions in 8 league games for Red Star Belgrade.
He is one of the most accomplished strikers over 35 still playing at the top level and the player Austria’s entire attacking game plan centres around.
3. Marcel Sabitzer — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 32 | Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Marcel Sabitzer is Austria’s creative engine and the player set to reach 100 caps at this World Cup.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder led Austria in qualifying with 3 assists — the most of any Austrian player — and created 13 chances with 3 of those being classified as big chances.
He was part of the Borussia Dortmund side that reached the 2024 Champions League Final and brings elite-level club experience and an eye for goal that makes him one of the most dynamic midfielders in this squad.
He is one of the best midfielders in Austrian football history and the most important creative player in Rangnick’s system.
4. Konrad Laimer — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29 | Club: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Konrad Laimer is the engine of Austria’s press and one of the most energetic midfielders in the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich.
With 57 caps and 7 international goals, he is a tireless, high-intensity box-to-box midfielder whose work rate and pressing ability are central to how Rangnick’s system functions.
He covers an enormous amount of ground, wins the ball in dangerous areas, and is capable of arriving late into the box to contribute with goals.
He is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in European football right now.
5. Nicolas Seiwald — Midfielder
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Age: 25 | Club: RB Leipzig (Germany)
Nicolas Seiwald is Austria’s most important defensive midfielder and the player who holds the entire press together in Rangnick’s system.
The RB Leipzig man has 47 caps at just 25 and is the consistent, disciplined presence in the engine room who allows Sabitzer and Laimer to express themselves further forward.
He was flagged as UEFA’s key player to watch at Austria’s Euro 2024, and has backed that up with consistent Bundesliga performances.
He is one of the best young defensive midfielders in European football.
6. Kevin Danso — Defender
Position: Centre-Back
Age: 27 | Club: Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Kevin Danso is the most high-profile club performer among Austria’s defenders and one of the Premier League’s most physically imposing centre-backs.
The Tottenham Hotspur man is powerful in the air, aggressive in his defending, and brings top-flight English football experience to Rangnick’s back line.
With 32 caps, he partners Alaba in the centre of Austria’s defence and gives Rangnick the physical presence needed to deal with some of the best strikers in Group J.
He is one of the best young defenders in European football.
7. Xaver Schlager — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28 | Club: RB Leipzig (Germany)
Xaver Schlager is one of Austria’s most experienced and reliable midfield operators with 51 caps and 4 international goals.
The RB Leipzig midfielder missed the 2022 and 2024 European Championships through injury and is finally fit for a major tournament.
He brings excellent positioning, passing range, and the ability to control the tempo of a game from the middle of the park.
He is one of the most reliable passers in this Austria squad and a crucial part of Rangnick’s midfield triangle.
8. Stefan Posch — Defender
Position: Right-Back/Defender
Age: 29 | Club: Mainz 05 (Germany)
Stefan Posch is one of Austria’s most experienced defenders with 52 caps and 5 international goals — a remarkable return for a right-back.
He plays his club football in the Bundesliga with Mainz 05 and has been one of the most consistent performers in Rangnick’s defensive setup throughout qualifying.
His attacking contribution from right-back is a genuine asset in Rangnick’s high-press system, giving Austria width and crossing quality from deep positions.
He is one of the best full-backs in Austrian football.
9. Carney Chukwuemeka — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 | Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Carney Chukwuemeka is the most exciting young player in this Austria squad and one of the most intriguing stories at the 2026 World Cup.
Born in the UK to Nigerian parents, he previously represented England at youth level before committing to Austria through his Austrian grandmother.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has 3 caps but is a technically gifted, physically powerful attacking midfielder who gives Rangnick a different creative dimension from the bench or from the start.
At 22, he is one of the youngest players at this tournament and one of the most promising young talents Austrian football has ever been able to call on.
10. Michael Gregoritsch — Forward
Position: Striker/Forward
Age: 32 | Club: FC Augsburg (Germany)
Michael Gregoritsch is Austria’s most important attacking option behind Arnautović and the player Rangnick turns to when he needs a different kind of threat in the final third.
With 75 caps and 24 international goals, he is Austria’s second-highest scorer in the squad and brings a combination of aerial ability, movement, and physical presence that gives Rangnick real flexibility in how he sets up the attack.
He is a consistent Bundesliga performer and a reliable goalscorer who knows exactly what his job is in Rangnick’s system.
He is one of the best strikers Austria have produced in the Bundesliga era.
Conclusion
Austria arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years with the most organised, best-coached, and most experienced squad they have assembled in a generation.
Alaba leads, Arnautović scores, Sabitzer creates, and Rangnick’s press makes them one of the most difficult teams in the world to play against.
Group J against Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan is tough.
But Austria beat Germany and France twice on their way here.
They are nobody’s easy game.
Other players worth watching include Florian Grillitsch, Romano Schmid, Patrick Wimmer, and Paul Wanner.
Who do you think will be Austria’s standout player at the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
