Marko Arnautovic is heading to a World Cup. At 37, and after a career that has taken him from Stoke City and West Ham United to Red Star Belgrade, the Austria forward has been named in his country's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first appearance at the tournament in 28 years.

Arnautovic is Austria's most-capped player, having made 132 appearances for his country and scored 47 international goals. Those are numbers that speak for themselves, and it is fitting that he should be part of the squad as Austria return to football's biggest stage for the first time since France 1998.

A squad packed with Premier League familiarity

Fans in England will recognise several names across the squad. David Alaba, the Real Madrid and Austria captain, leads a group that includes Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer — a former Manchester United loanee — and fellow Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who had a spell at Aston Villa before moving to Germany.

Kevin Danso, now at Tottenham Hotspur, is named at centre-back, while Konrad Laimer of Bayern Munich and Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager, both of RB Leipzig, provide considerable quality in the engine room. It is a squad that reflects the strides Austrian club football has made in developing talent for Europe's top leagues over the past decade.

Ralf Rangnick, who served as Manchester United's interim manager in the 2021-22 season, has been the architect of this Austria side. His coaching philosophy — high-pressing, structured, hard to beat — has shaped a generation of Austrian players, and his fingerprints are visible throughout this squad selection.

Group J: a tough but navigable path

Austria have been drawn in Group J, where their campaign begins against Jordan before they face Argentina and Algeria. A meeting with Argentina — the reigning world champions — will be the standout fixture and a genuine test of how far this squad has come. However, the group is far from impossible to navigate, and qualification from the group stage will be the realistic minimum target for Rangnick's side.

Arnautovic's inclusion adds a focal point in attack, even if his role may be as much about experience and leadership as starting every game. During his time in the Premier League he scored 43 goals and contributed 33 assists across 184 appearances, and that know-how in big matches will be invaluable in a tournament environment.

A moment for Austrian football

For a country that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 before losing to Turkey, this is a natural next step. The European championship run demonstrated Austria can compete at the highest level, and a generation of talented players is now mature enough to make a genuine impression at a World Cup.

Whether Arnautovic gets on the scoresheet in North America remains to be seen. But his presence in the squad is both earned and symbolic — a reminder that some careers age like fine wine, and that for Austria, the wait since 1998 is finally over.

Austria's full World Cup 2026 squad

  • Goalkeepers: Patrick Pentz (Brondby), Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg), Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Pilsen)
  • Defenders: David Affengruber (Elche), David Alaba (Real Madrid), Kevin Danso (Tottenham Hotspur), Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lienhart (Freiburg), Phillipp Mwene (Mainz), Stefan Posch (Mainz), Alexander Prass (Hoffenheim), Michael Svoboda (Venezia)
  • Midfielders: Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Grillitsch (Braga), Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen), Alessandro Schopf (RZ Pellets WAC), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg)
  • Forwards: Marko Arnautovic (Red Star Belgrade), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg), Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK)

Frequently asked

When did Austria last play at a World Cup?
Austria last appeared at a World Cup in 1998, when the tournament was held in France. The 2026 edition in North America marks their return after a 28-year absence.
Who is Austria's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Austria are managed by Ralf Rangnick, the German coach who previously served as Manchester United's interim manager during the 2021-22 season.
Which group are Austria in at the 2026 World Cup?
Austria are in Group J, where they will play Jordan, Argentina, and Algeria. Their opening match is against Jordan.