Austria named their 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, with David Alaba set to captain the side in their first appearance at the tournament since 1998.
Coach Ralf Rangnick selected a squad packed with Bundesliga experience and senior internationals. Austria open their Group J campaign against Jordan on 16 June before facing Argentina and Algeria later in the month.
Former Stoke City and West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic made the squad at 37 years old. The Red Star Belgrade forward has scored 47 goals in 132 appearances for Austria and remains the country’s most-capped player.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer also features alongside Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer and RB Leipzig pair Christoph Baumgartner and Nicolas Seiwald.
Alaba returns as the headline figure in defence. The Real Madrid player leads a back line that also includes Tottenham defender Kevin Danso and Freiburg centre-back Philipp Lienhart.
Austria also handed places to Carney Chukwuemeka and Paul Wanner after both players switched international allegiance earlier this year. Chukwuemeka joined from England, while Wanner left Germany’s youth set-up.
Rangnick has built Austria around direct pressing and quick transitions since taking charge. The squad reflects that approach, with athletic midfielders and experienced forwards dominating the selection.
Austria qualified for the tournament after a strong European campaign under the former Manchester United interim manager. The country now returns to football’s biggest stage after a 28-year absence.
Austria Squad:
Goalkeepers: Patrick Pentz (Brondby), Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg), Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Pilsen) Defenders: David Affengruber (Elche), David Alaba (Real Madrid), Kevin Danso (Tottenham), Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg), Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), Stefan Posch (Mainz), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim), Michael Svoboda (Venezia)
Midfielders: Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Grillitsch (Braga), Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen), Alessandro Schopf (RZ Pellets WAC), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg)
Forwards: Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg), Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK)
