On Sunday, October 12, Austria will face Romania in an important match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The game starts at 8:45 p.m. CET, and here’s a look at what to expect.
Romania vs Austria: Match Preview
Romania is still in the hunt for a top-two finish in their qualifying group. They have gathered seven points from five matches and are six points behind second-placed Bosnia, who have played one extra match. Romania’s chances remain alive, especially since they will play Bosnia again later. Even if Romania loses to Austria, they can still compete for second place if they manage to beat Bosnia away and hope for a favorable outcome when Bosnia faces Austria.
Austria is currently in strong form, leading the group. They are two points ahead of Bosnia and have one match in hand. Austria has won all five of their qualifying matches so far, with scores of 2–1 against Romania, 4–0 and 10–0 against San Marino, 1–0 against Cyprus, and 2–1 against Bosnia. They’ve scored 19 goals and allowed just two. A win in Bucharest would extend their lead to five points, and the upcoming match against Cyprus could be crucial. If Austria wins their next two games, they will secure a spot in the World Cup.
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Romania has lost only one of their last four matches.
- Austria has won their last five games with a total score of 19–2.
- In their previous encounter, Austria beat Romania 2–1.
Probable Lineups
- Romania: Radu; Rațiu, Popescu, Burcă, Opruț; R. Marin, M. Marin, Screciu; Man, Drăguș, Dobre
- Austria: Pentz; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Prass; Laimer, Seiwald; Schmid, Gregoritsch, Sabitzer; Arnautović
Prediction
Romania is a strong team, but Austria has shown excellent form and consistency in the qualifiers. It won’t be easy for Austria, but their overall quality and current momentum suggest they will take the win. The recommendation is to bet on Austria to win.