Austria's first World Cup match is against Jordan on June 17 at 6:00 AM CEST, with the team working on final preparations 100 days prior. They will play test matches against Ghana on March 27 and South Korea on March 31 at the Happel Stadium in Vienna, and another against Tunisia on June 1 in Vienna's Prater. By June 1 at the latest, Rangnick will nominate his final World Cup squad, which must consist of 23 to 26 players, including at least three goalkeepers.
However, a general rehearsal opponent for the opening match against Jordan is still being sought, and the location of the last training camp in Austria before departing for the USA remains undecided. Potential new players could bolster the squad, with expectations that Carney Chukwuemeka, a 22-year-old midfielder from Borussia Dortmund born in Vienna, will soon play for Austria. There are also legitimate hopes for Paul Wanner, a former Bayern Munich young star now at PSV Eindhoven with an Austrian mother, who was invited by Rangnick as a training guest in 2022 and has played for Germany up to the U21 level.
If Chukwuemeka and Wanner appear in the Austrian squad in two weeks, they would likely be part of the 35 to 55-member World Cup large squad due to FIFA by May 11. Rangnick's contract situation adds another layer of preparation, as his current deal expires after the World Cup, with both he and the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) interested in clarity before the tournament. A decision on an early extension could be made during this period.
The first meeting between Rangnick and his players since securing the World Cup ticket last November begins on March 23 with a four-day training camp in Marbella. The A-team will train for the first time at the new ÖFB campus in Vienna-Aspern between the test matches, with the squad for the test double nominated on March 16. For immediate World Cup preparation, local footballers will start on May 27, two days after the official release period begins, though the camp location is still open.
After the Tunisia match, the ÖFB World Cup players will have two days off. In the event of an injury, a player can be nominated up to 24 hours before the game against Jordan, and for goalkeepers, this is possible throughout the entire tournament.