Austria start their FIFA World Cup campaign with 3-1 win over Jordan
San Francisco, June 17
Austria began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over debutants Jordan in San Francisco on Tuesday.
Making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, Austria took the lead in the first half through a brilliant long-range goal from Romano Schmid in the 21st minute. Austria kept possession and moved the ball through midfield before Schmid received it at the edge of the box and curled a precise shot into the far corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
It was in the 50th minute when Jordan equalised and scored their first-ever World Cup goal. A pass was played into space from deep, and Ali Olwan ran onto it before cutting inside. Stefan Posch did not close him down, allowing him to enter the box. Olwan then curled a brilliant shot into the far corner, which went in off the post.
The match remained level until late on, when Austria's pressure from set-pieces proved decisive. Marko Arnautovic briefly thought he had restored the lead, but his effort was ruled out by VAR for a handball in the build-up.
Soon after, another corner caused chaos in the Jordan penalty area, with the ball deflecting off Yazan Al-Arab and into the net for an unfortunate own goal.
Deep into stoppage time, Jordan's hopes faded further when Salim Obaid was penalised for handling the ball while attempting to block a shot. Arnautovic stepped up and converted the resulting penalty with confidence, sealing the win for Austria in their opening World Cup fixture.
Notably, the fixture marked the first time Austria faced a nation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) at the World Cup, according to ESPN.
— ANI
Reader Comments
That Schmid goal was absolute class - curling it into the far corner like that. Reminds me of how we used to play in gully cricket! But honestly, Jordan's equaliser was even better. What a story for them - scoring their first World Cup goal against a European side. This is why I love the World Cup, it brings so many stories. Hope Asia does well this tournament!
Jordan really showed heart today. Playing in their first World Cup and taking the game to Austria - that's impressive. The own goal was unfortunate though, totally changed the momentum. As someone who follows Asian football closely, I think Jordan can be proud of their performance. The future looks bright for them! 👏
Good match overall, but I feel Jordan's defensive discipline let them down in the end. They were so organized for 80 minutes, then two set-piece goals undid all that hard work. Need to work on defending corners and free kicks - lessons to learn for next time. Still, proud moment for Asian football! 🇯🇴⚡
Austria deserved the win, no doubt. They controlled possession and created better chances overall. But what a moment for Jordan - scoring their first World Cup goal! That Olwan strike was something special. I'm curious to see how both teams perform in their remaining group games. The World Cup always delivers drama!
Great to see Asian teams making their mark at the World Cup! Jordan showed they belong on this stage. The handball for the penalty was a bit harsh though - that ball was smashed at him from close range. VAR decisions
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