Austria vs Jordan: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft David Alaba & Mousa Al Tamari

Can four-time UCL champion David Alaba propel Austria to a big win over debutants Jordan?

Framed by the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains, the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) in Santa Clara, USA, gears up to host the opening match week fixture of Group J in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where European outfit Austria takes on debutants Jordan in what is set to be a thrilling encounter.

Austria will return to the FIFA World Cup after nearly three decades, last participating in 1998. Their best-ever finish came way back in the early 1954 editions, when they won a bronze medal.

The Austrians are led by German gaffer Ralf Rangnick, who has previously been at the helm of RB Leipzig and Manchester United. They are one of the favourites to reach the knockouts in a group that includes Jordan, Argentina and Algeria.

Jordanian football is at an all-time high. After making it to the AFC Asian Cup Finals in the last edition, Jordan went through gruelling AFC Qualifiers to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever.

Despite being the lowest-ranked team in their group, they still have all it takes to pull off some big upsets. They are led by Jamal Sellami, the Moroccan gaffer who has been at the helm of Jordan football for over two years now.

In this article, we take a look at the top five players to keep an eye on in the upcoming match between Austria and Jordan.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch

5. Mousa Al Tamari (Jordan)

Famously nicknamed Jordanian Messi, Mousa Al Tamari is one of the very few players from Jordan to compete in the top flight of a top European league. Al Tamari is coming after a spectacular season with Rennes in Ligue 1.

He had 15 goal contributions in over 30 games for Franck Haise’s team, and he will be keen to go all guns blazing against Austria in their World Cup debut.

4. Yazan Al Arab (Jordan)

Nicknamed The Wall by Jordanian supporters, Al Arab is one of the highly respected Middle Eastern defenders playing in the fast-paced and highly technical Korean top flight with Seoul FC.

He is the defensive heartbeat of the team, and his commanding presence in the backline helped Jordan make a fairytale run to the finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. He will be tasked with keeping a clean sheet in Jordan’s debut World Cup game.

3. David Alaba (Austria)

Arguably, the greatest player Austria has ever produced in the modern era, Alaba, is a four-time UEFA Champions League winner with two of the biggest clubs in world football, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

A highly decorated defender like Alaba will set foot on the greatest stage of football for the first time ever and will be keen to clinch a clean sheet in the next game against Jordan. The Austrian captain, entering his mid-thirties, will be keen to make his debut World Cup memorable.

2. Konrad Laimer (Austria)

The Austrian right back is coming after an exceptional form with Bayern Munich. Apart from making those overlapping and accelerated runs, Laimer had a staggering 15 goal contributions in over 50 games for the Bavarians across all competitions.

Laimer is in sublime form and is arguably one of the best pure pressers in world football, who also possesses the rare ability to sustain high-speed sprints for 90 minutes

1. Marcel Sabitzer (Austria)

Son of a former international player, Herfried Sabitzer, Marcel Sabitzer will be cherishing his father’s World Cup dreams as he will be playing his first-ever World Cup match for his country against Jordan.

He has previously plied his trade with top European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, and in 2023 made a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he also played a key role in propelling them to the UCL Finals in 2024.

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