ÖFB President Pröll draws positive balance after World Cup exit against Spain and announces analysis

The Austrians played their first knockout match at a World Cup since 1954 in Los Angeles. Against world champions Argentina, the ÖFB team had already lost 0:2 in the group stage. In the end, advancing to the knockout stage was enough, where Spain proved to be the end of the road.

Pröll acknowledged that the performance against Spain had not been sufficient. However, he was convinced that the team had gained experience: "Die Spanier haben wenig Fehler gemacht und sich aus meiner Sicht sehr souverän präsentiert. Das ist sicher bitter für uns, aber so zu akzeptieren." He also said: "Das sind zwei der weltbesten Teams. Wir sind nicht so nah dran, um sie dauerhaft fordern zu können."

Spain too superior, Argentina too strong

"Ich sehe keine großen Versäumnisse, definitiv nicht, aber man muss durchaus seine Lehren ziehen," said Pröll regarding the ÖFB's performance at the World Cup. An initial evaluation is planned after a few days of vacation and is to include sporting, economic, and organizational aspects.

Shortly before the World Cup, Pröll had already extended the contract with team coach Ralf Rangnick. "Ich glaube, das war notwendig und richtig und gibt jetzt auch eine Perspektive bis 2028." With Paul Wanner and Carney Chukwuemeka, Rangnick has also lured two hopes for the future to the Austrian association.

Rangnick extension and home matches in September

The upcoming tasks are already scheduled: On September 24, Austria will host Israel in Linz, with the home match already sold out before the World Cup. According to Pröll, advance ticket sales are also going very well for the match against Kosovo three days later in Vienna. Pröll also set the goal of returning to the A League of the Nations League.

Major events are also on the agenda organizationally: On the previous day, the 2029 U21 European Championship will be awarded, for which the ÖFB has applied. The qualifying draw for the European Championship in Great Britain and Ireland will take place on December 6. "Dann wollen die Österreicher bei der EM in Großbritannien und Irland dabei sein," said Pröll.

Euphoria, home atmosphere, and looking ahead

Pröll particularly emphasized the mood in the country. "Die Weltmeisterschaft hat eine positive Stimmung nach Österreich gebracht, wie ich es lange nicht gesehen habe," he said. "Wir haben eine riesige Euphorie im Land entfacht, die gilt es mitzunehmen."

The ÖFB president watched the duel with Spain in the stadium alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, "den er seit der U17-WM im Vorjahr in Doha kenne." About Infantino, Pröll said: "Er ist sicher ein Freund Österreichs und des österreichischen Fußballs."

Overall, Pröll drew a positive conclusion from the World Cup: "Es war perfekt organisiert und überall eine positive Stimmung...Diese WM setzt echt ein Zeichen für den Fußball in Kanada, den USA und Mexiko - und das ist gut so."

Background for context is also the previous sporting path: As evidence of the team's development, Pröll cited, for example, the group victory at the 2024 European Championship ahead of France and the Netherlands. The decisive match in Vienna against Bosnia (1:1) as well as the dramatic World Cup group finale against Algeria (3:3) showed that the team was able to qualify on its own terms.

With the achieved round of 16 appearance, the ÖFB has played in a World Cup final round with a knockout match after 28 years and, according to Pröll, has laid a foundation for future tasks - with a view to the home matches in September, the Nations League, and the upcoming European Championship qualification.