Austria had little trouble securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Drawn into a relatively favorable qualifying group featuring teams such as Romania and Bosnia, Austria lost only once in eight matches and recorded six victories.
Their preparation for the tournament has also been impressive, with three consecutive wins in recent friendlies. As a result, Austria enter their opening Group J fixture against Jordan as clear favorites.
However, while securing all three points appears well within reach for coach Ralf Rangnick and his players, a comfortable margin of victory is far from guaranteed. Austria’s last two wins were both narrow 1-0 successes against Tunisia and South Korea, highlighting a team that prioritizes efficiency over high-scoring performances.
Jordan, meanwhile, arrive at their first-ever World Cup with growing confidence. The Middle Eastern side produced one of the biggest surprises in regional football by winning the 2025 Arab Cup, defeating strong opponents including Egypt, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia on their way to the title.
In four pre-World Cup friendlies, Jordan were also competitive against the Asian handicap line, suffering only one defeat in that category. They may lack Austria’s quality, but they should not be underestimated.
Recent Form & Head-to-Head
Austria
- Qualified comfortably for the World Cup
- Won their last three matches
- Kept clean sheets in their last two games
- Unbeaten in most recent fixtures
Jordan
- First-ever World Cup appearance
- 2025 Arab Cup champions
- Competitive in recent friendlies
- Strong defensive organization
Head-to-Head
Austria and Jordan have never met before in an official international match.
Team News
Austria
Austria are expected to have a full squad available with no major injury concerns.
Jordan
- Ibrahim Sabra is unavailable due to injury.
Probable Lineups
Austria
Patrick Pentz; Stefan Posch, Kevin Danso, David Alaba, Phillipp Mwene; Konrad Laimer, Nicolas Seiwald; Patrick Wimmer, Marcel Sabitzer, Romano Schmid; Marko Arnautović.
Jordan
Yazeed Abulaila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Abu Hashish; Al-Rawabdeh, Sadeh, Jamous, Al-Rashdan; Mousa Al-Tamari, Olwan, Abu Zrayq.
Betting Analysis
Asian Handicap: Austria -1.5
Although Austria are the superior side, the 1.5-goal handicap appears demanding.
- Austria’s last two victories were both by a 1-0 scoreline.
- Jordan have covered the Asian handicap in 11 of their last 12 matches.
- Jordan’s disciplined defensive structure could make it difficult for Austria to pull away on the scoreboard.
Pick: Jordan +1.5
Over/Under Goals: Under 2.75
Several indicators point toward a low-scoring contest:
- Austria’s last two matches ended 1-0.
- Austria kept clean sheets in both games.
- Jordan failed to score in their most recent friendly.
- Both teams tend to approach important matches cautiously.
Pick: Under 2.75 Goals
Cards Market
Austria have averaged approximately 3.2 cards per match across their last ten appearances.
Jordan’s last two matches produced a combined total of ten yellow cards, suggesting physical contests when facing stronger opposition.
With World Cup pressure and a potentially tight scoreline, disciplinary action should be expected.
Pick: Over 3.5 Total Cards
Expert Prediction
Recommended Bets
- Jordan +1.5 Asian Handicap
- Under 2.75 Goals
- Over 3.5 Total Cards
Correct Score Prediction
Austria 1-0 Jordan
Austria possess enough quality to start their World Cup campaign with a victory, but Jordan’s organization and resilience could keep the margin narrow. A controlled Austrian performance and a low-scoring affair appear the most likely outcome.