Austria concluded their UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a challenging match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a formidable opponent that displayed resilience throughout the encounter. Despite confronting a lackluster performance and struggling with several players not at their peak fitness, Austria were unable to secure a victory in their final qualifier.
Nevertheless, the draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina was enough for Austria to secure direct qualification to next year’s World Cup. Bosnia, who held the lead until the 79th minute when Austria equalized, will now face the UEFA playoffs in March alongside 15 other teams as they seek to clinch a World Cup berth.
In an electrifying start to the matchup, Bosnia took the lead just 12 minutes into the game with a clinical finish from Haris Tabakovic, sending shockwaves through the stadium in Vienna. As the first half neared its conclusion, Konrad Laimer appeared to have brought Austria level, only for the goal to be overturned following a foul spotted by the VAR system.
In the second half, Bosnia adopted a defensive stance, absorbing Austria’s relentless attacks. Their persistence paid off in the 79th minute when Michael Gregoritsch scored, officially securing Austria’s place in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, after their last appearance in the 1998 World Cup held in France.
Austria’s World Cup history
Austria’s absence from the World Cup stage since 1998 has left fans yearning for a return. In that tournament, Austria competed in Group B alongside Italy, Chile, and Cameroon, managing to secure two draws but ultimately succumbing to Italy in their final match, which led to their group stage exit.
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Historically, Austria demonstrated their prowess on the global soccer stage prior to World War II, qualifying for the World Cup in 1934 and 1938 and achieving impressive finishes of fourth and third place, respectively, with standout performances.
Since those early years, Austria have made five subsequent World Cup appearances, including the 1998 tournament in France. Their highest achievement came in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, where they finished seventh after facing strong opposition from Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy in the second round.
