Key events 22 min Jordan nearly equalise immediately as they race forward from the restart and thunder a shot into the crossbar. Just as this game is firing up, it’s time for a so-called hydration break. It was wonderful one-touch passing from Austria in the build up to deliver the ball to Romano Schmid alone at the top of the penalty area. A touch to the right was enough to open up his body and pick a gap between the defensive line and past the keeper into the top right corner. Romano Schmid GOAL! Austria 1-0 Jordan (Schmid 21) Romano Schmid gives Austria the lead with a stunning strike from distance. Romano Schmid of Austria celebrates scoring his team’s first goal Photograph: Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images 19 min Austria get in behind the Jordan defence with the second ball off a corner. The shot is blocked before the flag goes up. 17 min Jordan burst forward again – they look lively on the counter. Odeh Al-Fakhouri leaves the defence in his wake to get a shot away that briefly interests Austria keeper Schlager before it sails over the bar. 15 min Austria have taken control of the midfield as Jordan are content to sit back. Saša Kalajdžić is the target man and the centre of each attack. “It’s a comfortable 15 degrees, which I suppose that means there is no need for a ‘hydration break’,” Richard ponders from New Zealand. “Oh wait a minute isn’t it called an advert break or a momentum break or a tactical up date break.” General view inside the stadium Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters 13 min Jordan have little trouble playing out from the back and transitioning down the left and into the penalty area. The early cross leaves them outnumbered four-to-one as the Austria flood the penalty area to crowd Musa Al-Taamari. 11 min David Alaba has recovered from injury in time to lead Austria into their World Cup return. The 33-year-old is controlling the game from the back early but drifts into the midfield to take a speculative shot from outside the penalty area. 10 min Jordan enjoy their first sustained period of possession in their attacking half. With little else on offer, Musa Al-Taamari sends an early warning with a strike from well outside the penalty area. 9 min Austria take a quick throw-in to pick out Konrad Laimer charging into the penalty area. The versatile midfielder cuts back a pass before the ball quickly ends up back at his feet and pops up to brush his arm. Abdallah Nasib of Jordan controls the ball against Konrad Laimer of Austria Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images 7 min Austria arrived at their first World Cup for 28 years with a famed press under coach Ralf Rangnick. But Jordan are more than matching them as they set back and pick the right time to pounce on anything loose in their defensive half. Ralf Rangnick, Head Coach of Austria Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images 5 min Jordan threaten to counterattack again but the long ball over midfield travels a touch too far and Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager has time to clear. Austria want to settle things down with some time on the ball but that proves easier said than done. Jordan’s Mousa Al Tamari in action with Austria’s Phillip Mwene Photograph: Eloisa Lopez/Reuters 3 min A blistering start from Jordan as the counterattack after Austria’s long throw into the penalty area. Musa Al-Taamari races across the halfway line before the Austria defence catches up. Jordan still have time to get the first shot away but it rockets into the side net for a goal kick. 1 min Austria in their red jersey and black shorts settle in with a couple of long balls out of defence and win an early throw on the right. Austria players pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP Kick-off Peeeeeep! Austria get us under way against Jordan in the World Cup Group J match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. While the match ball is quickly assessed and the pre-game formalities wrap up, here is a reminder of the starting XIs for each side. Austria XI 1 Alexander Schlager (gk); 5 Stefan Posch, 15 Philipp Lienhart, 8 David Alaba (c), 16 Phillipp Mwene; 4 Xaver Schlager, 6 Nicolas Seiwald, 9 Marcel Sabitzer, 20 Konrad Laimer; 18 Romano Schmid, 14 Saša Kalajdžić. Jordan XI 1 Yazeed Abulaila (gk); 5 Yazan Al-Arab, 3 Abdallah Nasib, 16 Mohammad Abualnadi; 23 Ehsan Haddad (c), 21 Nizar Al-Rashdan, 8 Noor Al-Rawabdeh, 20 Mohannad Abu Taha; 10 Musa Al-Taamari, 9 Ali Olwan, 11 Odeh Al-Fakhouri. Referee: Dahane Beida Jordan starting eleven pose before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Austria and Jordan Photograph: Eakin Howard/AP The Austria national anthem – Land der Berge, Land am Strome – rings out at a World Cup for the first time in 28 years, before the Jordan players take an early win with a loud and proud version of their Long Live the King. Austria and Jordan walk on to the pitch at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters A quick reminder of the earlier matches today – each sprinkled with stardust: Supporters on both sides have descended on San Francisco with Jordan making their World Cup debut and Austria returning to the stage for the first time in 28 years. Austria fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Darren Yamashita/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Jordan fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images Austria fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters It’s a comfortable 15C in San Francisco which should suit Austria more than Jordan ahead of a 9pm kick-off. The players have finished warming up and should be out with their game faces on shortly. Musa Al-Taamari warms up for Jordan. Photograph: Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images Nicolas Seiwald warms up for Austria. Photograph: Matt McNulty/FIFA/Getty Images Reigning World Cup champions Argentina rose to the occasion and got their campaign off to the ideal start with a 3-0 victory over Algeria. And so did Lionel Messi, who in his 200th cap took another step towards solidifying his place as the greatest footballer in the history of the sport, scoring three splendid goals and tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time goal scoring mark in World Cup play (16), the performance coming just hours after France’s Kylian Mbappé leapfrogged him, with 14. Pablo Iglesias Maurer was at Kansas City Stadium for Argentina’s victory that also reiterated that this Austria-Jordon clash is a must-win game for both sides with top spot in Group J looking like a tough one to claim. Lionel Messi of Argentina poses for selfie with an official of Algeria Photograph: Alex Pantling/FIFA/Getty Images Jordan XI 1 Yazeed Abulaila (gk); 5 Yazan Al-Arab, 3 Abdallah Nasib, 16 Mohammad Abualnadi; 23 Ehsan Haddad (c), 21 Nizar Al-Rashdan, 8 Noor Al-Rawabdeh, 20 Mohannad Abu Taha; 10 Musa Al-Taamari, 9 Ali Olwan, 11 Odeh Al-Fakhouri. Coach Jamal Sellami shows faith in his typical 3-4-3 formation with Ehsan Haddad and Mohannad Abu Taha offering width. Pacey attacker Musa Al-Taamari – known in some circles as the “Jordanian Messi” – and the star of the World Cup qualifying campaign, Ali Olwan and emerging talent Odeh Al-Fakhouri bring the goal threat in the heartbreaking absence of striker Yazan Al-Naimat. Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’. Austria XI 1 Alexander Schlager (gk); 5 Stefan Posch, 15 Philipp Lienhart, 8 David Alaba (c), 16 Phillipp Mwene; 4 Xaver Schlager, 6 Nicolas Seiwald, 9 Marcel Sabitzer, 20 Konrad Laimer; 18 Romano Schmid, 14 Saša Kalajdžić. Coach Ralf Rangnick loads up the midfield with Seiwald and Schlager looking to take command while Sabitzer and Laimer likely have a licence to roam. But the biggest call is in attack with veteran Marko Arnautović left out of the starting XI along with emerging talent Paul Wanner. Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’. Meanwhile in Kansas City…. it may come as no surprise that Lionel Messi has taken just 76 minutes to stamp his mark on the tournament with a hat-trick for reigning champions Argentina in their opener against Algeria. With that, he equals the all-time World Cup scoring record. Austria and Jordan must be quaking in their boots. Join Jonathan Howcroft for what remains of that Group J game. Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goal Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images The streets and cafes of Amman will be heaving this morning as Jordan make their World Cup debut. John Duerden looks at how Al-Nashama booked their ticket – and what to expect against Austria at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. double quotation markJordan v Austria has been used as an example of a game that will challenge Fifa’s dynamic pricing system but regardless of how full the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is, the cafes in Amman’s Prince Muhammad Street and all around the country will be packed. They were a year ago, as fans watched Portugal beat Spain in the Uefa Nations League final, three days after the World Cup spot had been secured with the city still buzzing with the thought of Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) taking on the superstars of the world and … here they are. But while Jordan may be more about team spirit, organisation and counterattacking, they have stars of their own. In the days after qualification, the faces of the big three forwards featured on billboards everywhere you looked, though they have had differing fortunes since. Read more … Jordan fans inside the stadium before the match Photograph: Carlos Barría/Reuters Team guide: Jordan By Ayman Hijleh Jordan make their first World Cup appearance after nine previous unsuccessful qualifying attempts. The closest the national team came before was during the qualifiers for 2014, when they reached the intercontinental playoff but lost 5-0 on aggregate to Uruguay. But this time the story was different. Jordan topped the group in the second round of the Asian qualifiers, collecting 13 points with four wins, one draw and one defeat. They then progressed to the third round, finishing second in Group B behind South Korea to secure direct qualification with a match to spare after a 3-0 victory over Oman. The forward Ali Olwan was the team’s top scorer in the qualifiers with nine goals. The head coach, Jamal Sellami of Morocco, uses a 3-4-3 formation. Goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila anchors the side, while Yazan Al-Arab leads the back line alongside Abdallah Nasib and Mohammad Abualnadi. In midfield, Nizar Al-Rashdan and Noor Al-Rawabdeh provide stability, supported by the dynamic wing-backs Issam Al-Samiri on the right and Mohannad Abu Taha on the left. Sellami’s approach focuses on quick transitions to exploit the pace of star winger Mousa Al-Tamari. Find out more about World Cup debutants Jordan in the full team guide … Team guide: Austria By Andreas Hagenauer Austria’s plan has been remarkably stable for years. Personnel have shifted here and there, but the spine has barely changed: Marcel Sabitzer in an attacking role, Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager in central midfield, and a defence built around Philipp Lienhart, Konrad Laimer and Stefan Posch. Continuity is one of their strengths. The core principles remain press and stress. Austria want to stress opponents, force the pace of the game, win the ball back quickly and turn mistakes into chances. A few years ago that felt fresh and modern; now, high pressing and aggressive counterpressing are hardly revolutionary, and if the structure slips even slightly, the approach can expose a team badly. Austria, however, almost never lose that balance. They have absorbed coach Ralf Rangnick’s ideas to the point of reflex. Dejan Ljubicic of Austria inspects the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match Photograph: Matt McNulty/FIFA/Getty Images Learn more about Austria in our full team guide … Preamble Martin Pegan Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup match between Austria and Jordan at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Kick-off in this Group J game is 9pm local/12am EDT/5am BST/2pm AEST – or 6am CEST/7am EEST for those watching from the homelands of the competing teams. Reigning world champions Argentina are widely expected to top the group that also includes Algeria but the remaining spot – or two – to progress to the knockouts is very much up for grabs. The two sides meeting today in Santa Clara are perhaps among the first beneficiaries of the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams. Austria return to the grand stage for the first time since 1998 and for their eighth visit overall, while Jordan make their World Cup debut. Austria’s 28-year absence from the showpiece event ended when they topped their Uefa qualifying group ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and avoided the drama of the playoffs. Veteran striker Marko Arnautović was critical to the No 24-ranked side’s qualification with eight goals, while Marcel Sabitzer remains their main creative outlet. The high-intensity, manic press that has come to define coach Ralf Rangnick’s various reigns across clubs and country will be a feature as Austria seek to control possession and territory against the lowest-ranked side in Group J. Jordan, on the other hand, have booked their spot at the World Cup for the first time with a gameplan centred around a solid defence and counterattacks. The No 65-ranked side began their march towards a global tournament debut when reaching the Asian Cup final for the first time in 2023 with a shock win over South Korea in the semis. Jordan paid the price for giving away three penalties in a 3-1 defeat by Qatar in the decider but carried their momentum into the World Cup qualifiers. Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) were especially impressive playing away from home as they booked their World Cup ticket with an automatic qualification spot when second in the group behind South Korea. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news – and the latest from the World Cup. In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it! Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’. Post navigation বারাক ওবামা ট্রাম্পের কাছে নতি স্বীকারকারী প্রতিষ্ঠানের সমালোচনা করেছেন ডেমোক্র্যাটরা কয়েক দশক ধরে অফিসে থাকার পর ডিসির কংগ্রেসনাল প্রতিনিধির সম্ভাব্য উত্তরসূরি বেছে নিচ্ছেন
22 min Jordan nearly equalise immediately as they race forward from the restart and thunder a shot into the crossbar. Just as this game is firing up, it’s time for a so-called hydration break.
It was wonderful one-touch passing from Austria in the build up to deliver the ball to Romano Schmid alone at the top of the penalty area. A touch to the right was enough to open up his body and pick a gap between the defensive line and past the keeper into the top right corner. Romano Schmid
GOAL! Austria 1-0 Jordan (Schmid 21) Romano Schmid gives Austria the lead with a stunning strike from distance. Romano Schmid of Austria celebrates scoring his team’s first goal Photograph: Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images
19 min Austria get in behind the Jordan defence with the second ball off a corner. The shot is blocked before the flag goes up.
17 min Jordan burst forward again – they look lively on the counter. Odeh Al-Fakhouri leaves the defence in his wake to get a shot away that briefly interests Austria keeper Schlager before it sails over the bar.
15 min Austria have taken control of the midfield as Jordan are content to sit back. Saša Kalajdžić is the target man and the centre of each attack.
“It’s a comfortable 15 degrees, which I suppose that means there is no need for a ‘hydration break’,” Richard ponders from New Zealand. “Oh wait a minute isn’t it called an advert break or a momentum break or a tactical up date break.” General view inside the stadium Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters
13 min Jordan have little trouble playing out from the back and transitioning down the left and into the penalty area. The early cross leaves them outnumbered four-to-one as the Austria flood the penalty area to crowd Musa Al-Taamari.
11 min David Alaba has recovered from injury in time to lead Austria into their World Cup return. The 33-year-old is controlling the game from the back early but drifts into the midfield to take a speculative shot from outside the penalty area.
10 min Jordan enjoy their first sustained period of possession in their attacking half. With little else on offer, Musa Al-Taamari sends an early warning with a strike from well outside the penalty area.
9 min Austria take a quick throw-in to pick out Konrad Laimer charging into the penalty area. The versatile midfielder cuts back a pass before the ball quickly ends up back at his feet and pops up to brush his arm. Abdallah Nasib of Jordan controls the ball against Konrad Laimer of Austria Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
7 min Austria arrived at their first World Cup for 28 years with a famed press under coach Ralf Rangnick. But Jordan are more than matching them as they set back and pick the right time to pounce on anything loose in their defensive half. Ralf Rangnick, Head Coach of Austria Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
5 min Jordan threaten to counterattack again but the long ball over midfield travels a touch too far and Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager has time to clear. Austria want to settle things down with some time on the ball but that proves easier said than done. Jordan’s Mousa Al Tamari in action with Austria’s Phillip Mwene Photograph: Eloisa Lopez/Reuters
3 min A blistering start from Jordan as the counterattack after Austria’s long throw into the penalty area. Musa Al-Taamari races across the halfway line before the Austria defence catches up. Jordan still have time to get the first shot away but it rockets into the side net for a goal kick.
1 min Austria in their red jersey and black shorts settle in with a couple of long balls out of defence and win an early throw on the right. Austria players pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup Group J soccer match Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP
Kick-off Peeeeeep! Austria get us under way against Jordan in the World Cup Group J match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
While the match ball is quickly assessed and the pre-game formalities wrap up, here is a reminder of the starting XIs for each side. Austria XI 1 Alexander Schlager (gk); 5 Stefan Posch, 15 Philipp Lienhart, 8 David Alaba (c), 16 Phillipp Mwene; 4 Xaver Schlager, 6 Nicolas Seiwald, 9 Marcel Sabitzer, 20 Konrad Laimer; 18 Romano Schmid, 14 Saša Kalajdžić. Jordan XI 1 Yazeed Abulaila (gk); 5 Yazan Al-Arab, 3 Abdallah Nasib, 16 Mohammad Abualnadi; 23 Ehsan Haddad (c), 21 Nizar Al-Rashdan, 8 Noor Al-Rawabdeh, 20 Mohannad Abu Taha; 10 Musa Al-Taamari, 9 Ali Olwan, 11 Odeh Al-Fakhouri. Referee: Dahane Beida Jordan starting eleven pose before the World Cup Group J soccer match between Austria and Jordan Photograph: Eakin Howard/AP
The Austria national anthem – Land der Berge, Land am Strome – rings out at a World Cup for the first time in 28 years, before the Jordan players take an early win with a loud and proud version of their Long Live the King. Austria and Jordan walk on to the pitch at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters
Supporters on both sides have descended on San Francisco with Jordan making their World Cup debut and Austria returning to the stage for the first time in 28 years. Austria fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Darren Yamashita/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters Jordan fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images Austria fans at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Photograph: Luisa González/Reuters
It’s a comfortable 15C in San Francisco which should suit Austria more than Jordan ahead of a 9pm kick-off. The players have finished warming up and should be out with their game faces on shortly. Musa Al-Taamari warms up for Jordan. Photograph: Alex Livesey/FIFA/Getty Images Nicolas Seiwald warms up for Austria. Photograph: Matt McNulty/FIFA/Getty Images
Reigning World Cup champions Argentina rose to the occasion and got their campaign off to the ideal start with a 3-0 victory over Algeria. And so did Lionel Messi, who in his 200th cap took another step towards solidifying his place as the greatest footballer in the history of the sport, scoring three splendid goals and tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time goal scoring mark in World Cup play (16), the performance coming just hours after France’s Kylian Mbappé leapfrogged him, with 14. Pablo Iglesias Maurer was at Kansas City Stadium for Argentina’s victory that also reiterated that this Austria-Jordon clash is a must-win game for both sides with top spot in Group J looking like a tough one to claim. Lionel Messi of Argentina poses for selfie with an official of Algeria Photograph: Alex Pantling/FIFA/Getty Images
Jordan XI 1 Yazeed Abulaila (gk); 5 Yazan Al-Arab, 3 Abdallah Nasib, 16 Mohammad Abualnadi; 23 Ehsan Haddad (c), 21 Nizar Al-Rashdan, 8 Noor Al-Rawabdeh, 20 Mohannad Abu Taha; 10 Musa Al-Taamari, 9 Ali Olwan, 11 Odeh Al-Fakhouri. Coach Jamal Sellami shows faith in his typical 3-4-3 formation with Ehsan Haddad and Mohannad Abu Taha offering width. Pacey attacker Musa Al-Taamari – known in some circles as the “Jordanian Messi” – and the star of the World Cup qualifying campaign, Ali Olwan and emerging talent Odeh Al-Fakhouri bring the goal threat in the heartbreaking absence of striker Yazan Al-Naimat. Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Austria XI 1 Alexander Schlager (gk); 5 Stefan Posch, 15 Philipp Lienhart, 8 David Alaba (c), 16 Phillipp Mwene; 4 Xaver Schlager, 6 Nicolas Seiwald, 9 Marcel Sabitzer, 20 Konrad Laimer; 18 Romano Schmid, 14 Saša Kalajdžić. Coach Ralf Rangnick loads up the midfield with Seiwald and Schlager looking to take command while Sabitzer and Laimer likely have a licence to roam. But the biggest call is in attack with veteran Marko Arnautović left out of the starting XI along with emerging talent Paul Wanner. Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Meanwhile in Kansas City…. it may come as no surprise that Lionel Messi has taken just 76 minutes to stamp his mark on the tournament with a hat-trick for reigning champions Argentina in their opener against Algeria. With that, he equals the all-time World Cup scoring record. Austria and Jordan must be quaking in their boots. Join Jonathan Howcroft for what remains of that Group J game. Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goal Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images
The streets and cafes of Amman will be heaving this morning as Jordan make their World Cup debut. John Duerden looks at how Al-Nashama booked their ticket – and what to expect against Austria at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. double quotation markJordan v Austria has been used as an example of a game that will challenge Fifa’s dynamic pricing system but regardless of how full the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is, the cafes in Amman’s Prince Muhammad Street and all around the country will be packed. They were a year ago, as fans watched Portugal beat Spain in the Uefa Nations League final, three days after the World Cup spot had been secured with the city still buzzing with the thought of Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) taking on the superstars of the world and … here they are. But while Jordan may be more about team spirit, organisation and counterattacking, they have stars of their own. In the days after qualification, the faces of the big three forwards featured on billboards everywhere you looked, though they have had differing fortunes since. Read more … Jordan fans inside the stadium before the match Photograph: Carlos Barría/Reuters
Team guide: Jordan By Ayman Hijleh Jordan make their first World Cup appearance after nine previous unsuccessful qualifying attempts. The closest the national team came before was during the qualifiers for 2014, when they reached the intercontinental playoff but lost 5-0 on aggregate to Uruguay. But this time the story was different. Jordan topped the group in the second round of the Asian qualifiers, collecting 13 points with four wins, one draw and one defeat. They then progressed to the third round, finishing second in Group B behind South Korea to secure direct qualification with a match to spare after a 3-0 victory over Oman. The forward Ali Olwan was the team’s top scorer in the qualifiers with nine goals. The head coach, Jamal Sellami of Morocco, uses a 3-4-3 formation. Goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila anchors the side, while Yazan Al-Arab leads the back line alongside Abdallah Nasib and Mohammad Abualnadi. In midfield, Nizar Al-Rashdan and Noor Al-Rawabdeh provide stability, supported by the dynamic wing-backs Issam Al-Samiri on the right and Mohannad Abu Taha on the left. Sellami’s approach focuses on quick transitions to exploit the pace of star winger Mousa Al-Tamari. Find out more about World Cup debutants Jordan in the full team guide …
Team guide: Austria By Andreas Hagenauer Austria’s plan has been remarkably stable for years. Personnel have shifted here and there, but the spine has barely changed: Marcel Sabitzer in an attacking role, Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager in central midfield, and a defence built around Philipp Lienhart, Konrad Laimer and Stefan Posch. Continuity is one of their strengths. The core principles remain press and stress. Austria want to stress opponents, force the pace of the game, win the ball back quickly and turn mistakes into chances. A few years ago that felt fresh and modern; now, high pressing and aggressive counterpressing are hardly revolutionary, and if the structure slips even slightly, the approach can expose a team badly. Austria, however, almost never lose that balance. They have absorbed coach Ralf Rangnick’s ideas to the point of reflex. Dejan Ljubicic of Austria inspects the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match Photograph: Matt McNulty/FIFA/Getty Images Learn more about Austria in our full team guide …
Preamble Martin Pegan Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup match between Austria and Jordan at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Kick-off in this Group J game is 9pm local/12am EDT/5am BST/2pm AEST – or 6am CEST/7am EEST for those watching from the homelands of the competing teams. Reigning world champions Argentina are widely expected to top the group that also includes Algeria but the remaining spot – or two – to progress to the knockouts is very much up for grabs. The two sides meeting today in Santa Clara are perhaps among the first beneficiaries of the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams. Austria return to the grand stage for the first time since 1998 and for their eighth visit overall, while Jordan make their World Cup debut. Austria’s 28-year absence from the showpiece event ended when they topped their Uefa qualifying group ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and avoided the drama of the playoffs. Veteran striker Marko Arnautović was critical to the No 24-ranked side’s qualification with eight goals, while Marcel Sabitzer remains their main creative outlet. The high-intensity, manic press that has come to define coach Ralf Rangnick’s various reigns across clubs and country will be a feature as Austria seek to control possession and territory against the lowest-ranked side in Group J. Jordan, on the other hand, have booked their spot at the World Cup for the first time with a gameplan centred around a solid defence and counterattacks. The No 65-ranked side began their march towards a global tournament debut when reaching the Asian Cup final for the first time in 2023 with a shock win over South Korea in the semis. Jordan paid the price for giving away three penalties in a 3-1 defeat by Qatar in the decider but carried their momentum into the World Cup qualifiers. Al-Nashama (The Chivalrous Ones) were especially impressive playing away from home as they booked their World Cup ticket with an automatic qualification spot when second in the group behind South Korea. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news – and the latest from the World Cup. In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it! Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.