Austria is back on the World Cup stage for the first time in 28 years, and they’re making it count. Romano Schmid found the net in the 20th minute to give Austria a 1-0 lead over Jordan in their Group J opener at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The goal, assisted by midfielder Xaver Schlager, came from a well-placed finish that Jordan’s defense simply couldn’t contain.
A historic night for both sides
Austria’s last World Cup appearance was in France in 1998, making this a generational return for Austrian football. Nearly three decades of qualifying heartbreak finally ended with a spot in the expanded 2026 tournament.
For Jordan, the stakes were arguably even higher. This was their first-ever World Cup match, period. Walking onto the pitch at Levi’s Stadium meant the culmination of years of development for a program that has steadily climbed the ranks of Asian football.
