Austria 3-1 Jordan: Schmid opens scoring, Arnautovic penalty seals win
Austria defeated Jordan 3-1 in Group J's opening match. R. Schmid scored in the 21st minute, Jordan equalized through A. Olwan, but an own goal by Y. Al Arab and a stoppage-time penalty by M. Arnautovic secured the win.
On June 18, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, San Francisco Bay Area, Austria defeated Jordan 3-1 to secure their first win in Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Austria dominated possession in the first half, and in the 21st minute, X. Schlager assisted R. Schmid to open the scoring, giving Austria a 1-0 lead at halftime.
In the 50th minute, Jordan equalized through A. Olwan, assisted by N. Al Rawabdeh, making it 1-1. However, in the 76th minute, Jordan defender Y. Al Arab scored an own goal, putting Austria ahead again. Deep into stoppage time (90+12'), Austria won a penalty, which M. Arnautovic converted to seal the 3-1 victory.
Austria had 63% possession compared to Jordan's 37%. Both teams recorded 11 total shots, with 4 on target each. Austria earned 4 corners, Jordan 3. Expected goals (xG) were 1.66 for Austria and 0.53 for Jordan. Austria's goalkeeper made 3 saves, Jordan's 1. Austria completed 580 passes at 84% accuracy, Jordan 330 at 73%. Austria committed 12 fouls and received 1 yellow card; Jordan had 7 fouls and no cards.
The top-rated player was Jordan forward Ali Olwan (rating 7.6), who played the full 90 minutes, scored one goal, had 3 shots, and completed 26 passes. Olwan, 25, plays for Al-Sailiya SC, has 58 caps for Jordan, was born in Amman, stands 182 cm tall, and has a market value of €800k.
After the first round of Group J, Argentina leads with a 3-0 win over Algeria, boasting a +3 goal difference. Austria is second with +2, while Jordan and Algeria are third and fourth respectively, both with 0 points.
For Austria, this win is crucial. They face Argentina next on June 23 at 01:00 (Beijing time). Jordan will take on Algeria on the same day at 11:00, with both teams desperate for points.
Austria showed their possession strength, but Jordan's counterattacks were dangerous. Olwan's goal proved Jordan is no pushover, but defensive errors cost them dearly.
Overall, Austria deserved the win, but Jordan's performance was commendable. The upcoming matches will decide their fates in the group.