Austria's national football team has secured its first World Cup qualification since 1998, marking a significant achievement for the team under coach Ralf Rangnick. The team qualified after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and now prepares for the 2026 tournament in North America, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA from June 11 to July 19. The team hopes to make an impact similar to their performance at the 2024 European Championship. However, Austria faces uncertainty regarding their placement in the World Cup group stage draw. The final groupings depend on the outcome of the upcoming playoffs and the FIFA ranking, which influences the seeding process. Currently, Austria is ranked 24th in the world, but this could change if FIFA alters the draw procedures, especially since Austria lost ground in the rankings after a recent draw. The draw will take place on December 5 in Washington D.C., with 48 teams divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings. The host countries—Canada, Mexico, and the USA—will be in Pot 1 regardless of rankings. Austria's placement in Pot 2 or 3 depends on the results of the playoffs and the FIFA rankings, which are affected by the outcome of the playoff matches in November. Team captain David Alaba and other players express high motivation and confidence, aiming for success and emphasizing their desire to perform well in the tournament. Coach Rangnick plans early team arrivals and several test matches in preparation, with a potential friendly in Austria before heading to North America. Overall, Austria is enthusiastic about their return to the World Cup stage, eager to compete and showcase their football, but the final group stage placement remains uncertain due to the ongoing qualification and ranking processes.