Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has issued a clear warning to his players ahead of their World Cup opener against Jordan, insisting there are no easy matches left in international football after a tournament already filled with unexpected results.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's Group J clash at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Rangnick pointed to the growing list of surprises during the opening days of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as proof that reputation alone guarantees nothing.

The tournament has already produced several eye-catching results.

The Czech Republic fell 2-1 to South Korea, while Australia spoiled Turkey's long-awaited return to the World Cup stage with a convincing 2-0 victory. Japan then fought back twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, and Switzerland—widely considered one of the favourites in Group B—were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar.

For Rangnick, those results highlight a simple reality: every team at this World Cup is capable of causing problems.

"We have seen many surprises during this World Cup," Rangnick told reporters on Monday.

"If you look at the matches and the results, there have been 12 draws and only six victories. No South American team has won so far."

The Austrian manager believes Jordan will provide a particularly difficult challenge despite entering the match as underdogs.

Rather than engaging in an open contest, Rangnick expects Jordan to remain compact, absorb pressure and look for opportunities to strike on the counterattack.

"This is not going to be a walkover," he said.

"It's going to be an uncomfortable opponent. They will try to draw us forward, absorb the pressure and then exploit the spaces that open up through counter-attacks.

"That is exactly what we expect tomorrow."

Austria Return to the World Cup After 28 Years

Tuesday's match will mark a significant moment for Austrian football.

The nation returns to the World Cup stage for the first time in 28 years, ending one of the longest absences among Europe's established football countries.

There is genuine optimism surrounding the team following an impressive showing at Euro 2024, where Austria topped their group before eventually being eliminated by Turkey in the Round of 16.

However, Rangnick knows a strong start will be essential if his side hopes to progress from one of the tournament's toughest groups.

Alongside Jordan, Austria must also face Algeria and defending champions Argentina, making every point potentially crucial.

A victory against Jordan would immediately strengthen Austria's chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.

Injury Blow Before the Tournament

Austria's preparations were disrupted by the loss of influential midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who was ruled out with a thigh injury shortly before the tournament.

The midfielder has become one of the key figures in Rangnick's high-intensity system and is widely regarded as one of the team's most important players.

His absence removes an important source of energy, pressing and creativity from midfield.

Despite the setback, Rangnick appeared relaxed regarding the rest of his squad.

The German coach revealed that he had already decided on his starting lineup for the Jordan match last week and confirmed that every available player is fit and ready.

While refusing to reveal his team selection, he indicated that the squad has completed its preparations without further injury concerns.

An Unexpected Advantage

The match is scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. local time in the cool evening conditions of the Bay Area, meaning players are unlikely to struggle with extreme temperatures.

As a result, hydration breaks may not be necessary.

Yet Rangnick surprisingly admitted he is a fan of the often-debated stoppages.

For the Austrian coach, the breaks offer a valuable opportunity to communicate directly with his players during a match.

"It is positive for me as a coach because I can speak to the players and give them advice," he explained.

With approximately 65,000 spectators expected inside the stadium, Rangnick believes normal communication from the touchline will be extremely difficult.

"It's going to be very noisy, so I won't really be able to reach the players and talk to them."

Because of that, any opportunity for the team to regroup and receive tactical instructions could prove valuable.

"So for us, it can actually become an advantage."

No Room for Complacency

Austria may enter the match as favourites, but Rangnick's message is clear.

The opening week of World Cup 2026 has already demonstrated that underestimating opponents can be a costly mistake.

With shocks occurring across multiple groups and several fancied teams already dropping points, Austria know they cannot afford to become the next headline.

After waiting nearly three decades to return to football's biggest stage, Rangnick's side will be determined to make their comeback count.

But if they are to begin their World Cup journey with a victory, they must first navigate what their coach believes will be one of the most challenging tests of the opening round.