Austria return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and Jordan are preparing for their first-ever finals match. That is the backdrop for the opener at Levi’s Stadium, where Austria’s stronger recent run meets a debutant side trying to turn history into something more than survival.

Why Austria start with the edge

Austria open the group after winning six, drawing one and losing one of their eight UEFA qualifying matches. They also arrive on a three-game winning run and a five-match unbeaten streak, which is the kind of form that usually matters more than ceremony on a stage like this.

Christoph Baumgartner is out through injury and has been replaced by Dejan Ljubicic, so Austria are not at full strength. Even so, David Alaba is expected to be fit enough to start, and that should keep the core of the side intact.

Why Jordan can make this awkward

Jordan finished second in AFC qualifying with 16 points from 10 matches, then secured their place with a 3-0 win over Oman. Their route to this game has also included real turbulence, because they failed to win any of their four World Cup warm-up matches, drawing two and losing two.

Jamal Sellami said: "This achievement comes after years of hard work from players and the Jordan FA." Mustafa Arqawi, the former communications director for the Jordan Football Association, added: "In my childhood, I was brought up with the fact that Jordan is a home of football talent."

The problem is obvious enough. Yazan Al-Naimat is unavailable due to injury after scoring eight goals during World Cup qualifying, while Mousa Tamari remains the main attacking outlet and has a 7.0 average rating across his last five league outings. Austria’s Konrad Laimer, by contrast, arrives with a 6.6 average over his last five matches and one assist, which points to a side that can control games without needing to overplay its best moments.

Jordan have already shown they can upset bigger names, too. Their 2-0 win over South Korea in the 2023 Asian Cup semi-finals, when South Korea failed to manage a shot on target, is the kind of result that will keep Austria honest if they get sloppy.

This is still Austria’s game to manage, though. If they impose the structure that carried them through qualifying, Jordan will need a sharp first showing to keep the opener tight.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →