Ralf Rangnick extends Austria contract until Euro 2028 after World Cup

Ralf Rangnick will remain Austria’s national team coach through the 2028 European Championship, the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) confirmed on Saturday, 13 June 2026, just days before the team’s opening World Cup match against Jordan. The decision follows persistent reports of an approach from AC Milan, which the ÖFB dismissed as unfounded. Rangnick, 65, has led Austria since 2022 and will now guide the side at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico before preparing the squad for the next continental tournament.

The ÖFB announced the extension in Vienna, specifying that Rangnick’s contract now runs until the end of Euro 2028 . The association also revealed that the agreement includes an option for further extension, underscoring the federation’s confidence in the German tactician’s leadership. “Rangnick’s contract has been extended,” the ÖFB stated, adding that the decision was made to ensure continuity ahead of the World Cup and beyond .

The announcement comes amid speculation linking Rangnick to the vacant managerial position at AC Milan, a rumour that surfaced earlier this week. Multiple German and Austrian outlets reported that Milan had approached Rangnick following the dismissal of Stefano Pioli, but the ÖFB moved swiftly to quash the speculation. “There was never any contact with AC Milan,” an ÖFB spokesperson told the *Tagesspiegel* .

Rangnick’s tenure has been marked by a pragmatic, high-pressing style that has revitalised Austria’s fortunes. Under his guidance, the national team qualified for consecutive major tournaments, including the 2024 European Championship and now the 2026 World Cup. His contract extension signals the ÖFB’s commitment to building on these achievements, with the federation keen to avoid the instability that has plagued other European sides in recent years.

Austria kicks off its World Cup campaign against Jordan in San Francisco on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The team, drawn in Group D alongside France, the Netherlands and a qualifier from the Asian play-offs, will look to Rangnick’s leadership to navigate a challenging group stage. The coach’s focus, however, remains firmly on the long-term project, with Euro 2028 firmly in his sights. “We are building something sustainable,” Rangnick said in a statement released by the ÖFB. “The World Cup is important, but our work continues beyond that.”