World Cup 2026: Austria 3-1 Jordan - European side earn first World Cup win in 36 years with victory over debutants
Austria won their first World Cup game in 36 years with a 2-1 Group J victory over tournament debutants Jordan in San Francisco.
Ralf Rangnick's side needed a late own goal and a Marko Arnautovic stoppage-time penalty to see off a Jordan side who were nerveless on their tournament bow.
The Asian team nearly took a 90-second lead as captain Ehsan Haddad hit a volley into the side netting, but their positive start was punctured when Romano Schmid bent in a wonderful 21st-minute opener - Austria's only shot on target of the first half.
But Jordan were not deterred by Schmid's stunner as Ali Olwan hit the bar just 113 seconds later with a glancing header.
The debutants deservedly levelled early in the second half as Olwan produced a fine curling equaliser in off the post in the 50th minute.
A triple change then shook up Austria, who thought they had restored the lead in the 67th minute through half-time substitute Arnautovic only for his close-range goal at a corner to be disallowed for a handball by Stefan Posch following a VAR review.
Austria did eventually go back in front through a 76th-minute Yazan Al Arab own goal as the ball flicked off his back into the net at a corner.
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Jordan failed to trouble Austria, who made the win safe through Arnautovic's penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time after a VAR review spotted Saleem Obaid had handled the ball when blocking the former Stoke and West Ham forward's shot.
It was a pleasant return to the World Cup for Austria after a 28-year absence from the competition, but they will need to up it if they are to upset holders Argentina in their next Group J game on Monday (6pm UK time), especially after Lionel Messi's hat-trick heroics against Algeria, whom Jordan face next on Tuesday (4am UK time).
2: JORDAN GO CLOSE! Haddad raids forward from a counter-attack to smash a low volley from the angle into the side-netting after just 90 seconds.
21: GOAL! Schmid scores a stunning opener for Austria as he bends one home from outside the box to score with their first shot on target.
22: JORDAN HIT THE BAR! Nearly an instant reponse as Olwan heads against the woodwork with a glancing header from a corner.
50: GOAL! Jordan deservedly equalise early in the second half through a fine Olwan goal as he curls one in off the post for the country's first-ever World Cup goal.
70: AUSTRIA GOAL DISALLOWED! Arnautovic's close-range goal from a corner is ruled out following a VAR review after Posch handled before the ball fell to him.
76: AUSTRIA RETAKE THE LEAD! VAR doesn't save Jordan this time as Al Arab scores an own goal at the near post from a corner as the ball glances off his back while he battled with Arnautovic.
90+12: AUSTRIA SCORE FROM THE SPOT! Arnautovic gets on the scoresheet this time as he buries a penalty home after a VAR review for a handball against Obaid, who had deflected Arnautovic's shot wide with his arm.
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17 of June 2026
