2026 FIFA World Cup — Group J, Matchday 1 | June 17 | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

SAN FRANCISCO — Thirty-six years.

That is how long Austria waited for a World Cup victory. The last time they won a match at this tournament was in 1990 — the summer of Italia ’90, when Marco Arnautović was one year old.

Thirty-six years later, Arnautović is 35. He sat on the bench at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, watching his teammates wrestle with World Cup debutants Jordan under the midday California sun. He was brought on in the 62nd minute. Then he forced an own goal, scored a penalty, and had a goal of his own disallowed by VAR.

Austria 3-1 Jordan.

Thirty-six years of waiting, repaid in one afternoon.

First Half: Schmid’s Arrow, Jordan’s Crossbar

For the opening 20 minutes, Jordan did not look like a team making their World Cup debut.

In the 2nd minute, captain Ehsan Haddad fired a shot from a tight angle on the right — wide, but the message was clear: this team had not come to San Francisco as tourists. Ali Olwan, their striker, hunted across the front line like a man possessed. And Musa Al-Taamari — the €10 million man from Rennes — made the Austrian backline flinch every time he touched the ball.

But Austria have Ralf Rangnick.

The “Professor’s” team is built on high pressing, and in the 21st minute, it paid off. Xaver Schlager won the ball in midfield, looked up, and threaded a pass through. Romano Schmid — the 24-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder — cut in from the right and, without hesitation, stroked the ball into the far corner.

1-0.

Schmid ran to the corner flag, arms raised to the sky. The Bay Area wind whipped his hair in every direction. He did not care. It was his first World Cup goal. It was Austria’s first World Cup goal in 28 years.

But Jordan did not crumble.

In the 35th minute, a Jordan corner found Yazan Al-Arab, whose header crashed against the crossbar. Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had given up on it — he could only watch as the ball bounced on the goal line before being cleared. A few centimetres. Jordan were a few centimetres from their first World Cup goal.

Half-time. Austria 1-0. Possession 54% to 46%. Shots 6 to 4. The numbers favoured Austria. But what troubled Rangnick at the break was Jordan’s counter-attacking speed — too fast, too sharp, like a knife grazing the skin.

Second Half: Olwan’s Thunderbolt, Arnautović’s Script

The 50th minute.

Noor Al-Rawabdeh collected the ball in midfield. Austria’s defence had not yet reset. He spotted Olwan’s run — a through-ball that sliced through the entire backline. Olwan collected it on the edge of the box and, without a single touch to settle, struck it with the outside of his right boot.

The ball arced into the far corner.

1-1.

The Jordan bench erupted. Head coach Jamal Sellami — the Moroccan — dropped to his knees, hands covering his face. This was Jordan’s first World Cup goal. They had waited an entire nation’s footballing history for this moment.

But the joy lasted 26 minutes.

In the 62nd minute, Rangnick made the decision that changed the game: off came striker Sasa Kalajdzic, on came Marco Arnautović. The 35-year-old veteran — who once played for Shanghai Port in China, now winding down at Red Star Belgrade — may have lost a step, but he has not lost his instinct.

In the 68th minute, Arnautović chested a cross into the net. He turned to celebrate — but VAR intervened. Handball. Goal disallowed. His face shifted from ecstasy to confusion to fury. He shook his head and walked back to the centre circle.

But fate was not finished with him.

In the 76th minute, Arnautović burst down the right and whipped in a cross. The ball flew towards the goalmouth. Yazan Al-Arab — the same Al-Arab who had struck the crossbar in the first half — stretched to clear. But the ball deflected off his shin and into his own net.

2-1.

Own goal.

Al-Arab knelt on the turf, head in his hands. His teammates gathered around, patting his shoulders, but no words could help. This is football — one moment you are inches from being a hero, the next you are the villain.

Stoppage Time: Twelve Minutes, One Penalty

The fourth official raised his board: 12 minutes of added time.

In the 90+12th minute — yes, you read that correctly — Arnautović was brought down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot.

Arnautović placed the ball on the penalty spot. He took a breath. The stadium fell silent. Then he ran up and swept it home with his right foot.

3-1.

He sprinted to the corner flag, arms spread wide. His teammates piled on top of him. The 35-year-old, on the World Cup stage, had killed the game with a penalty. Thirty-six years ago, when Austria last won a World Cup match, he was still in nappies. Now he was the hero.

Jordan: Defeated, Not Disgraced

Jordan lost. But the 3-1 scoreline does not tell their story.

Olwan’s thunderbolt was one of the finest goals of this tournament so far. Al-Arab’s own goal was football at its cruelest. But under the San Francisco sun, Jordan proved one thing: they belong here.

Asia’s unbeaten run is over. Six AFC teams had gone 2-4-0. Jordan became the first to lose. But their first World Cup goal, their courage, their refusal to bow — those things are worth more than a single victory.

Group J Standings

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Argentina 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
2 Austria 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 3
3 Jordan 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0
4 Algeria 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0

Austria travel to Dallas to face Argentina on June 22. Rangnick’s high press against Messi’s magic — it will be the most anticipated match of Group J. Jordan face Algeria in San Francisco the same day, with both teams fighting for their tournament lives.

Match Details:

SHARE 𝕏 f W ✉