🔊 Which national team will head to the 2026 World Cup? They are considered the favorites in Group H. However, Romania have already dropped points, significantly diminishing their chances of securing the top spot. That said, the playoffs are still in play. Austria are making their debut in the qualifiers, while their opponents will be playing their third match. Ralph Rangnick's squad are seen as the favorites for the clash at the "Ernst Happel" Stadium. However, it certainly won't be a walk in the park for the team. Therefore, we'll explore various scenarios to make an insightful prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 Over the past 13 years, these opponents have faced each other just twice. In 2020, they were drawn into the same group in the UEFA Nations League. Romania pulled off a surprising away victory, securing three points with a 3-2 win. However, Austria got their revenge in the second leg with a 1-0 triumph.

Austria Team Overview

🔴 The Austrian national team has made significant strides in recent years. They reached the playoffs of Euro 2024 but were knocked out by Turkey in the Round of 16, which was a major disappointment as expectations were higher. Now, their minimum goal is to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

🔗 Last year, Austria performed admirably in the UEFA Nations League. They suffered only one defeat in their group, but it was enough to let Norway advance. In March, the team was involved in playoff matches for a chance to move up to League A. They faced Serbia, managing only a 1-1 draw at home. In the return leg, Austria had opportunities to turn the game around. However, they conceded immediately after halftime and were reduced to ten men just 12 minutes later (0-2).

🔝 One of the key players in Austria's attack is Christoph Baumgartner. He spent two seasons at Leipzig, though not as impressively as he did at Hoffenheim. This year, the "Red Bulls" underperformed, with Baumgartner contributing two goals and two assists in the Bundesliga. However, he performs better for the national team. Notably, during the last UEFA Nations League campaign, he had more goal contributions than he did all season with Leipzig (2+3). The match against Romania will mark Baumgartner's 50th appearance for the national team.

Romania Team Overview

🟡 Romania have been a surprise package in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. They matched Austria’s achievement by reaching the Round of 16, only to be knocked out by the Netherlands. The team also made their mark in the UEFA Nations League, winning all their matches and comfortably securing promotion to League B.

🔗 It seemed like their winning streak would continue in the new qualification cycle. However, they faced a stern challenge from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening round (0-1). Conceding in the 14th minute, Romania had plenty of opportunities to equalize. There was also a shocker in the match against San Marino. Conceding a goal midway through the second half is hard to overlook, though it was the only shot on target from their opponents throughout the game. Nonetheless, Romania secured a convincing 5-1 victory.

🔝 One of Romania’s standout players is Răzvan Marin. He has spent five years in Serie A, playing for both Empoli and Cagliari. While this season hasn’t been remarkable at the club level, the midfielder made a significant impact in the last UEFA Nations League campaign, scoring six goals and providing one assist in six matches. Marin also impressed in the current tournament with a strong performance against San Marino.

Latest news

Austria

🎙 Austria midfielder Florian Grillitsch (Hoffenheim) is confident that the team can kick off the tournament with six points and qualify for the World Cup: "We can achieve a lot, and make it to the World Cup for the first time since 1998. That's our ultimate goal, and we'll do everything we can. We've shown our potential in the past. If we can unlock it again, I'm convinced we'll secure six points in the next two matches."

❌ David Alaba (Real Madrid) and Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg) will miss the upcoming match due to injuries. However, the squad sees the inclusion of four newcomers: Nikolas Polster (Wolfsberger) and Nicolas Schmid (Portsmouth), Nikolas Veratschnig (Mainz), and Mathias Honsak (Heidenheim).

Romania

✅ Denis Dragus and Deian Sorescu missed the first national team training session as they were still with their clubs. However, they have now rejoined the squad, along with Nicusor Bancu, who had a wedding scheduled over the weekend. Forward Louis Munteanu has been released to the U21 team. There are no other absences.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The main referee for the match is Maurizio Mariani (Italy). This season, he has officiated three international matches. In two of those, he handed out six yellow cards each, while in the Slovenia vs. Slovakia game, he issued just one caution. Across all competitions, the Italian averages 3.8 yellow cards per game.

This season, Romania have been shown yellow cards more frequently (2.2 compared to 2). Matches involving Romania see an average of 4.8 cautions. Austria's games also feature a significant number of yellows (3.8). Considering the stakes for both teams, betting on over 3.5 total yellow cards seems justified.

⚽️ Goals Prediction

Austria's defense has been anything but reliable. They've conceded in 18 of their last 20 home matches. On the flip side, Romania have scored in six consecutive away games. After their first-round defeat, Mircea Lucescu's squad will be focused on attacking to secure points. Therefore, a bet on the visitors to score is worth considering.

🚩 Corners Prediction

Romania have the edge in corners (5.3 compared to 4.8). Even at home, Austria don't rack up many corners; in fact, they haven't exceeded six corners in 6 of their last 7 games. In this context, it makes sense to bet on the hosts under 6.5 total corners.

The Austrian national team remain optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, a goal shared by Romania as well. Recently, both teams have struggled with defensive reliability, but the visitors maintain strong discipline, often securing the results they need. A draw, such as a 1-1 scoreline, would likely satisfy them.

Austria are expected to find the back of the net in any match, boasting a strong squad primarily composed of players from the German Bundesliga. However, their defense raises concerns; it's not the strongest on paper, and they could use a more skilled goalkeeper. Given that Austria have conceded in 18 of their last 20 home games, our key betting suggestion is both teams to score (yes).