Alpine Intensity Meets a Middle Eastern Debut Under the Lights of Santa Clara
Line-ups 🇦🇹 AUT 4-2-3-1 🇯🇴 JOR 3-4-2-1
Coach: Ralf Rangnick
Starting XI
- 1 Alexander Schlager G
- 5 Stefan Posch D
- 15 Philipp Lienhart D
- 8 David Alaba D
- 16 Phillipp Mwene D
- 6 Nicolas Seiwald M
- 4 Xaver Schlager M
- 18 Romano Schmid M
- 20 Konrad Laimer M
- 9 Marcel Sabitzer M
- 14 Saša Kalajdžić F
Substitutes
- 7 Marko Arnautović F
- 3 Kevin Danso D
- 17 Carney Chukwuemeka M
- 24 Paul Wanner M
- 21 Patrick Wimmer M
- 12 Florian Wiegele G
- 13 Patrick Pentz G
- 2 David Affengruber D
- 23 Marco Friedl D
- 25 Michael Svoboda D
- 10 Florian Grillitsch M
- 19 Dejan Ljubičić M
- 22 Alexander Prass D
- 26 Alessandro Schöpf M
- 11 Michael Gregoritsch F
Coach: Jamal Sellami
Starting XI
- 1 Yazeed Abulaila G
- 3 Abdallah Nasib D
- 5 Yazan Al-Arab D
- 16 Mo Abualnadi D
- 23 Ihsan Haddad M
- 21 Nizar Al-Rashdan M
- 8 Noor Al-Rawabdeh M
- 20 Mohannad Abu Taha M
- 11 Odeh Fakhoury F
- 9 Ali Olwan F
- 10 Mousa Tamari F
Substitutes
- 17 Salim Obaid D
- 19 Saad Al Rousan D
- 13 Mahmoud Al-Mardi F
- 25 Mohammad Al-Dawoud M
- 24 Ali Al Azaizah F
- 22 Abdallah Al-Fakhouri G
- 12 Noureddin Zaid G
- 4 Husam Ali Mohammad Abudahab D
- 26 Anas Badawi D
- 18 Mohammad Abu Ghoush D
- 2 Mohammad Ali Hasheesh D
- 6 Amer Jamous M
- 14 Rajaei Ayed M
- 15 Ibrahim Sadeh M
- 7 Mohammad Abu Zrayq F
Ralf Rangnick has transformed Austria into a high-octane pressing machine that prioritizes structural discipline and rapid vertical transitions. In the tech capital of Silicon Valley, Das Team aims to execute a dominant performance against a side making its first-ever appearance on the world stage. With David Alaba anchoring the backline and Marko Arnautović providing veteran guile up front, Austria enters as favorites but faces a psychological test against an unknown quantity.
For Jordan, this fixture represents the pinnacle of their national footballing history. Led by the mercurial Musa Al-Taamari, the Chivalrous rely on explosive counter-attacking and a resilient defensive block that served them well during their AFC qualifying run. Jamal Sellami’s squad will look to exploit any gaps left by Austria’s aggressive high line, hoping to turn their historic debut into a global statement of intent.
Head to head
Austria and Jordan have no previous competitive or friendly meetings on record, making this a fresh chapter in international football. Historically, Austria boasts a rich World Cup legacy, including a third-place finish in 1954, though they have struggled for consistency in recent decades. In contrast, Jordan is entering their first-ever FIFA World Cup, looking to prove their merit as one of the rising powers of the AFC region.
Players to watch
The Real Madrid veteran provides the tactical intelligence and elite distribution necessary to orchestrate Rangnick's complex defensive system.
As the first Jordanian to play in Ligue 1, his pace and dribbling ability are Jordan's primary weapons for breaking down European defenses.
The nation's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player remains a formidable physical presence and a clinical finisher in the box.
His prolific qualifying form and chemistry with Al-Taamari make him essential for Jordan's hopes of securing an upset.
Fun facts
- This match marks Jordan's first-ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup final tournament.
- Levi's Stadium is home to the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and features a solar-paneled green roof.
- Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick is widely credited with pioneering the modern Gegenpressing style used by some of the world's top managers.
- Jordan is the only debutant nation in Group J for the 2026 edition.
- Despite their Alpine heritage, Austria's best-ever World Cup finish (3rd) occurred during a heatwave in Switzerland in 1954.