Austria's national football team dramatically ended their World Cup drought. In Tuesday's decisive match in Vienna against Bosnia, the Austrians salvaged a 1-1 (0-1) draw after trailing for much of the game, thus qualifying for the 2026 finals in North America. After Bosnia took the lead through Haris Tabakovic (12th minute), Michael Gregoritsch scored the equalizer in the 77th minute, sparking jubilant celebrations. The goal secured Austria's first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Had they lost against Bosnia, their direct competitors for victory in qualifying group H, the Austrian national team would have had to win two play-off games in March to secure a World Cup ticket.
Photo gallery: Off to the World Cup! Austria celebrates a 1-1 draw against Bosnia.
Austrian national team coach Ralf Rangnick made two changes to the starting lineup compared to the 2-0 win against Cyprus on Saturday – Phillipp Mwene and Patrick Wimmer replaced Stefan Posch and Romano Schmid. Captain David Alaba, who had recently been unfit, was on the bench. The Bosnians started with Sturm Graz players Emir Karic – whose playing permit only arrived late Monday evening – and Arjan Malic at full-back. Furthermore, head coach Sergej Barbarez opted for Edin Dzeko and Tabakovic as a strike partnership.
The visitors sat deep from the opening whistle, and the Austrians struggled to create chances. A volley from Wimmer (7th minute) and a header from Christoph Baumgartner (9th minute) both missed the target by a wide margin. The Bosnians struck with their first attacking foray. After a corner, goalkeeper Alexander Schlager only parried the ball away, Amar Memic flicked it back into the danger zone, and Tabakovic headed it in from close range. The home side, already looking nervous in several situations, appeared bewildered after that, only increasing the pressure towards the end of the first half.
Controversial disallowance of Laimer goal
After a successful attack, Bosnia's goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj saved a shot from Seiwald (35th minute), before the big controversy followed nine minutes later. Konrad Laimer scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area to what appeared to be the equalizer, sending most of the stadium into raptures, but the euphoria didn't last long. VAR intervened because Laimer had allegedly fouled Esmir Bajraktarevic in his own half 21 seconds before his goal, and the Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro disallowed the goal.
The Austrian national team came out of the locker room with a vengeance, and Wimmer headed just wide of the top corner after a cross from Mwene (48'). Two minutes later, Tabakovic could have sealed the victory, but he stumbled after unexpectedly finding himself with the ball at the six-yard box. It would prove to be Bosnia's only dangerous attack of the second half, as Austria launched a relentless offensive, pinning their opponents back in their own penalty area for extended periods – but struggling to find a way through the tightly woven defensive net.
Gregoritsch as a golden touch
Rangnick reacted after just under an hour by bringing on Gregoritsch, a move that would prove to be a masterstroke. The Styrian scored the goal that will secure him a place in the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) history books with just under a quarter of an hour remaining. Marcel Sabitzer delivered a cross into the box, Arnautovic misjudged the ball, distracting Vasilj, who tipped it onto the crossbar. But Gregoritsch pounced from the edge of the box and fired the ball into the net from close range.
Bosnia couldn't mount a comeback, and Austria comfortably secured the decisive point. The Austrian national team even had a chance to make it 2-1 through Gregoritsch (89'). The next important date is December 5th, when the World Cup group stage draw takes place in Washington. Austria will most likely be drawn from Pot 3; a victory would have placed them in Pot 2 – but that was a mere footnote in the moment of their great triumph.
