Zenica, 04 July 2026
The Austrian U19 women's national team will face the reigning European champions from Spain on Saturday (5:00 p.m., live on ORF Sport + and via livestream) in their third group match of the Women's U19 European Championship in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
Having already secured their first-ever semifinal qualification, the ÖFB team will play their final group game of the tournament. After clinching a spot in the semifinals ahead of schedule, the match on Saturday (4 July, 5 p.m., Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica) against top favorites Spain is about claiming first place in the group and thus securing the best possible starting position for the knockout stage.
The setup could hardly be more enticing for the Austrian side. By reaching a U19 European Championship semifinal for the first time, the squad coached by Markus Hackl has already made history. Now awaiting them are the Spanish, who are considered the defending champions and one of the top favorites of the tournament.
First-Ever Semifinal Appearance
The players are fired up for this match. Above all, midfielder Ella Herbst showed a fighting spirit ahead of the game. "Ich denke schon, dass wir sie mit unserem Pressing auch richtig stören können. Wenn wir ihre wenigen Fehler im Spielaufbau nutzen können, glaube ich schon, dass wir für uns Momente kreieren können", so Mittelfeldspielerin Ella Herbst.
The Austrian team has played the tournament with great discipline and tactical maturity so far. The squad operates compactly, relies on intense pressing, and has earned respect through two strong performances in the group stage. Now they aim to pull off the next upset against the heavy favorites from Spain.
Spain as Defending Champions
The Spanish arrive as defending champions and with the ambition to claim another European title in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are considered a well-drilled collective with high individual quality, which makes the task particularly demanding for the ÖFB team. The Austrian players, however, see this primarily as an opportunity to measure themselves against one of the best European sides.
Head coach Markus Hackl emphasized beforehand that his team would approach the match with great confidence and full energy. "Wir werden Vollgas geben", is the motto for the final group game. The players know that, despite being clear underdogs, they can throw everything into the match – and they want to.
Revenge and Group Win in Sight
For the Austrian U19 team, it is not just about winning the group, but also about avenging a previous defeat against the Iberians. The situation is clear: with a win or draw, the ÖFB team could take over first place in the group and thereby hope for an easier semifinal opponent.
The match will be broadcast live on ORF Sport + and is also available via the platform's livestream. Football fans in Austria can thus follow this historic encounter live, should the team set the next milestone in the still young success story of Austrian women's football.
Implications for the Knockout Stage
In the event of a win, Austria would advance to the semifinals as group winners and face a supposedly weaker opponent there. In the case of a defeat, they would still be qualified as semifinalists but would then have to face a more highly regarded opponent in the semifinal.
The anticipation within the Austrian camp is palpable. Players and coaching staff are looking forward to the showdown against Spain and want to confirm the strong performances from the first two group games. Looking ahead to the knockout stage, a win against the defending champions would also send a clear signal to the competition.
The duel between Austria and Spain promises high-level football and is the provisional highlight of a remarkable European Championship journey for the ÖFB talents. Should the Austrian side manage to upset the favorites, it would be a sensation – and further confirmation of the rising development in Austrian women's football.