The ÖFB national football team is set to secure their first World Cup appearance in 28 years with a crucial match against Bosnia on Tuesday. A draw at the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna will be sufficient for the team to clinch the top position in Group H, while a loss would mean facing the challenge of play-offs in March.
ÖFB head coach Ralf Rangnick expressed the team’s high motivation ahead of this vital qualification match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for 8:45 PM and broadcast live on Servus TV. When asked about the importance of the upcoming clash with Bosnia, Rangnick responded, “It is definitely the most important game since the EURO.”
One of the key questions surrounding the match is the availability of team captain David Alaba. Although he participated in the final training session at his own initiative, his exact participation remains uncertain. The Austrian side will also have to strategize against Bosnia’s potential line-up, which could see Edin Dzeko and Haris Tabakovic play as a duo or merely Dzeko as a single striker. “Both are possible, and we are prepared for both,” Rangnick noted, emphasizing the need for his players to focus on their strengths during the match.
Statistically, the ÖFB team carries an edge over Bosnia, having tasted victory in two of their six past encounters, with three draws and only one defeat, boasting a goal difference of 6:4. Furthermore, they have lost only once in their last 16 home international matches, a narrow defeat against Belgium.
Looking ahead to the match, veteran player Marko Arnautovic highlighted its significance, calling it “the most important and biggest game of my career.” After a standout performance in Austria’s previous game, where he scored four goals in a 10-0 rout against San Marino, Arnautovic is poised to lead the team with high spirits. “We are going into the game to win,” he declared, encouraging his teammates to channel positive energy.
Despite the prospect of a sizeable Bosnian audience in attendance, Arnautovic and the team are driven by the support from their own fans and even received backing from Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, who expressed pride in the team and urged them to aim for the World Cup. As the countdown to the game continues, both players and coaches are united in their determination to make history for Austrian football.