Austria returned to winning ways on football’s biggest stage after 36 years, defeating World Cup debutants Jordan 3-1 in an entertaining Group J clash at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The match featured momentum swings, VAR drama and a dramatic finish as Austria secured all three points.

The victory marked Austria’s first World Cup win since 1990, when they defeated the United States during the tournament in Italy. After missing the previous six World Cups, Austria celebrated a memorable return with a hard-fought success.

Schmid Gives Austria the Perfect Start

Austria began the match brightly and took the lead in the 20th minute through Romano Schmid. The midfielder finished a flowing attacking move with a superb right-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area after receiving a pass from Xaver Schlager. His powerful effort gave Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila no chance and rewarded Austria for their strong start.

The goal put Jordan under pressure, but the newcomers refused to back down.

Jordan Fight Back After the Break

Jordan, playing in their first-ever World Cup, showed great determination after halftime. Just five minutes into the second half, Ali Olwan led a rapid counterattack and finished confidently past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. The equaliser sparked huge celebrations among Jordan’s supporters and gave the team renewed belief.

With the score level at 1-1, the match became increasingly competitive as both sides pushed for a winner.

VAR Denies Austria Before Own Goal Changes Match

Austria thought they had regained the lead when substitute Marko Arnautović found the net after Abulaila spilled a corner into a crowded penalty area. However, a VAR review detected a handball by Stefan Posch during the build-up, and the goal was disallowed.

Despite the setback, Austria continued to attack and soon found another breakthrough. Shortly after the second-half cooling break, another dangerous Austrian corner caused chaos inside the Jordan penalty area. Defender Yazan Al-Arab attempted to clear the ball but accidentally turned it into his own net in the 76th minute. The own goal restored Austria’s lead and shifted momentum firmly in their favour.

Arnautović Seals Victory in Stoppage Time

Jordan continued to push forward in search of another equaliser. However, their attacking approach left space at the back. Deep into stoppage time, Austria earned a penalty and veteran striker Marko Arnautović stepped up to take it. He calmly converted in the 90+12th minute to put the result beyond doubt and complete a 3-1 victory.

The late goal capped an impressive Austrian performance and ensured a comfortable scoreline.

Historic Result for Austria

The win ended a long wait for Austria, whose previous World Cup victory came more than three decades ago. It also crushed Jordan’s hopes of becoming the first nation since Senegal in 2002 to win on its World Cup debut.

Austria now head into a major Group J showdown against defending champions Argentina and their captain Lionel Messi. The two sides will meet in Texas on Monday. Meanwhile, Jordan will travel to Santa Clara for a crucial match against Algeria, who opened their campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Argentina. Austria’s victory not only revived their World Cup ambitions but also set up an exciting battle at the top of Group J.