Ali Olwan’s second-half strike gave Jordan their first-ever World Cup goal, but an own goal and a stoppage-time spot-kick saw Austria open their Group J campaign with three points.
Austria secured a 3-1 victory over World Cup debutants Jordan at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, but the night belonged to the Lions of Jordan, who scored their first-ever goal on football’s biggest stage.
Austria broke the deadlock early in the 21st minute when Romano Schmid slotted home a clinical finish, marking his country’s first World Cup goal in 28 years. Austria last appeared at the finals in 1998, and Schmid’s strike ended that long drought.
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Jordan responded with determination after the break. In the 49th minute, top-scorer Ali Olwan made history by scoring Jordan’s first-ever goal at a World Cup, levelling the match at 1-1 and sending the Jordanian supporters into delirium.
Austria regained control in the 75th minute when heavy pressure forced an unfortunate own goal by Jordanian defender Yazan Al-Arab. The Europeans continued to push, and deep into stoppage time, second-half substitute Marko Arnautović calmly converted a VAR-awarded penalty kick in the 101st minute to cement a 3-1 victory.
Austria dominated possession with 62 percent and registered nine shots, three on target, while Jordan managed 11 shots, four on target. Austrian passing accuracy stood at 88 percent compared to Jordan’s 77 percent.
The match marked Jordan’s first-ever World Cup appearance, ending a 40-year qualification drought dating back to 1986. According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Austria’s victory places them second in Group J behind Argentina, who defeated Algeria 3-0 on Tuesday. Jordan remain in third place ahead of Algeria on goal difference.
For Austria, the result marks a winning return to the World Cup stage. For Jordan, the tournament debut will be remembered for Olwan’s historic goal, even as the result slipped away.
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Predictable Lineups – Bef0re Kick0ff
⏳ Head-to-Head History & Context
Last Updated on June 17, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
