26 days · 18 summary articles
Austria secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over debutants Jordan in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday, ending a 36-year World Cup drought and marking their return to the tournament for the first time since 1998. The Austrian team, led by head coach Ralf Rangnick, survived a nervy encounter against a spirited Jordanian side that twice equalised before Marko Arnautovic’s stoppage-time penalty sealed a nervy but ultimately satisfying triumph.
Jordan struck first through Ali Olwan’s historic strike, curling a shot into the top corner in the 37th minute to register the country’s first-ever World Cup goal . Austria responded through Konrad Laimer before an own goal by Jordan’s Yazan Al-Naimat levelled the scores at 2-2 in the 68th minute. Arnautovic, who had earlier missed a first-half penalty, made no mistake from the spot in the 90+3rd minute after a VAR review awarded the spot kick for a foul on Michael Gregoritsch .
The result, though narrow, was celebrated in Vienna and across Austria, where fans gathered in public squares as early as 06:00 local time to watch the match on giant screens . “It was a tough game, but we showed character,” said Rangnick after the final whistle. “We needed a bit of luck, and we got it. Now we have to build on this.”
Austria’s triumph came despite a disjointed performance that belied their pre-match status as heavy favourites. Multiple reports described a “wild exchange” and “through-the-mill” display, with the team repeatedly failing to assert control against a disciplined and motivated Jordanian side . “We were not convincing today,” admitted midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. “We made it difficult for ourselves, but in football, you need these kinds of games to grow.”
The win places Austria top of Group J on three points, ahead of France and Poland, with their next match against Poland scheduled for Sunday in Detroit. Jordan, despite the historic goal, remain bottom with zero points. Their coach, Janko Popović, praised his players’ resilience: “We showed the world what we are capable of. This is only the beginning.”
For Austria, the victory marks the end of a long wait and the start of a new chapter. After 28 years away, they have returned to the global stage—not with style, but with a gritty determination that may yet carry them further than many expect.
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