William Hill News provide their best World Cup 2026 bets and predictions ahead of the Group J fixture between Austria and Jordan in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Austria and Jordan meet in Group J with very different expectations, but both arrive knowing an opening-day result can shape the whole mood of a World Cup campaign.
The European side have the more established tournament pedigree and the stronger recent record, while Jordan are trying to turn the edge of their first-ever finals appearance into something more stubborn than a novelty act.
Austria come into the game in good shape, with four wins and a draw from their last five matches. That run includes a 1-0 win over Tunisia, another 1-0 victory against South Korea, and a 5-1 statement against Ghana.
The numbers are tidy too: Austria scored nine goals and conceded three across those five fixtures.
Jordan’s recent stretch has been rougher, with no wins in their last five, plus three defeats and two draws.
A 2-0 loss to Colombia earlier this month was their latest result, and earlier setbacks against Switzerland and Morocco exposed the kind of gaps Austria will fancy testing. Jordan have still shown some resilience, drawing with Nigeria and Costa Rica, but they have conceded 11 goals across that run.
Austria v Jordan Best Bets:
- Both teams to score – EVS
- Austria to win & both teams to score – 9/4
- Austria to win 3-1 – 10/1
The European nation’s confidence is also built on the bigger picture. Ralf Rangnick has overseen a revival that took Austria to their first World Cup since 1998, and they followed their Euro 2024 round-of-16 exit with 11 wins in their next 18 matches.
By contrat, Jordan are carrying the energy of a debut appearance and the pressure that comes with trying to prove they belong at this level.
Austria’s main concern is Christoph Baumgartner, who has been ruled out by injury and removes one of their most creative options.
Even so, the core of the side still looks strong, with Alexander Schlager in goal, David Alaba organising the back line, and Marko Arnautovic leading the line in the predicted XI.
Marcel Sabitzer, Xaver Schlager and Konrad Laimer give Rangnick plenty of control in midfield, which should suit Austria if they want to push Jordan back early.
Jordan have their own significant absentees, with Yazan Al Naimat and Ibrahim Sabra both ruled out through injury. That is a tough blow because Mousa Al-Tamari remains the headline threat and the player most likely to carry Jordan forward in transition.
The expected shape leans towards a compact back three with Yazeed Abulaila behind Yazan Al-Arab, Abdallah Nasib and Mohammad Abualnadi, while Ali Olwan is likely to lead the attack.
Looking at Austria’s likely XI, they are a side built for control, pressing and quick recoveries, while Jordan’s setup suggests a more disciplined, counter-attacking plan – though they could easily defy football betting odds by getting on the scoresheet.
That contrast matters because Austria have enough quality to dominate territory, but Jordan can still make a game ugly if they keep their structure and hit cleanly on the break.
Austria v Jordan Match Odds:
- Austria – 4/11
- Draw – 19/5
- Jordan – 7/1
The midfield battle is key to the outcome and Austria’s route to victory looks straightforward on paper. Limit Al-Tamari’s space, and turn territorial pressure into a steady stream of chances.
Rangnick’s teams are at their best when they squeeze the pitch and force mistakes high up the field, and Jordan’s recent defensive record suggests that kind of stress could quickly turn into trouble.
Jordan’s best chance is to keep the game tight long enough for Austria’s frustration to creep in. Their qualification campaign showed they can be organised and disciplined, and a low-block, transition-heavy approach is their clearest path to an upset.
If they can slow the tempo and drag Austria into a stop-start match, the pressure shifts onto the European side to justify the status they bring into the opener.
The venue at Levi’s Stadium adds a clean, neutral-stage feel to the contest, but Austria still look the more complete side in every area that matters. Jordan have enough spirit to compete, yet their absences up front make it harder to see where the goals will come from if Austria score first.
Austria should have too much control, too much structure and enough attacking quality to see this one out. Jordan can keep it competitive for spells, especially if Al-Tamari gets room to run, but Austria’s form and balance point towards a professional start rather than a thriller.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
