Austria have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after midfielder Christoph Baumgartner was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh muscle injury, the Austrian Football Association confirmed on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old suffered the injury during the warm-up before Austria’s international friendly against Tunisia on Monday. Medical examinations and MRI scans later revealed a muscle injury in his right thigh, ending his hopes of participating in the World Cup.
Baumgartner’s absence is a major blow for head coach Ralf Rangnick, with the midfielder having emerged as one of Austria’s most influential players in recent years.
The attacking midfielder was coming off an outstanding season with RB Leipzig, contributing 17 goals and nine assists across all competitions. His creativity, versatility and attacking output were expected to play a key role in Austria’s World Cup campaign.
Confirming the development, the Austrian Football Association said in a statement on social media that Baumgartner would miss the tournament after suffering a muscle injury in his right thigh.
Reacting to the news, Rangnick described the injury as a significant loss for the squad.
“This is of course very bitter news for Christoph and for us as a team. He is an important player and a central personality within our team. Now our full support is for his recovery,” the Austria coach said.
Austria will now have to adjust their plans and identify a suitable replacement ahead of the tournament. The team begins its Group J campaign against Jordan on June 16 before facing further group-stage challenges.
Despite Baumgartner’s absence, Austria still boast a strong squad featuring experienced names such as David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer and veteran striker Marko Arnautovic.
