Austria qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 on Tuesday when they came from behind to draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Vienna, a result that forced the visitors into the play offs.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, needing a win to advance, struck first after 12 minutes through Haris Tabakovic. The forward finished confidently to silence the home crowd and put his side within reach of a first finals appearance. Austria, sluggish in the first half, grew into the match after the interval and levelled in the 77th minute when Michael Gregoritsch reacted quickest to sweep in the rebound after Austria had hit the crossbar.
The visitors pushed for a decisive second goal that would have taken them through, but Austria held firm to secure the point they required. Bosnia-Herzegovina must now win two single leg play off ties to join Austria at next summer’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Austria’s return to the tournament ends a run of six missed editions since they last appeared in 1998, when they exited in the group stage without a win. Historically they finished third in 1954 and fourth in 1934, but their recent progress has come under Ralf Rangnick, who took charge in May 2022 after an interim spell at Manchester United.
Rangnick guided Austria to Euro 2024 where they beat Poland and the Netherlands before losing 2–1 to Turkey in the last sixteen. Their World Cup qualifying campaign was similarly assured. They won six of their eight Group H matches, drew once and lost once to finish on 19 points, two clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
