About Austria

The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) was founded on 18 March 1904, making it one of the oldest football federations in the world. Austria joined FIFA in 1905 and even hosted the fifth FIFA Congress in 1908. The roots of Austrian football stretch back to 1894, when the First Vienna Football Club became the country's first organised team.

The most celebrated chapter in Austrian football history is the "Wunderteam" era of the late 1920s and early 1930s, shaped by coach and general-secretary Hugo Meisl. The side went unbeaten across 14 successive matches between April 1931 and October 1932, recording stunning victories such as 6–0 and 5–0 against Germany. This golden generation also reached the semi-finals of the 1934 World Cup, finishing fourth. Two years later, Austria claimed a silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics, losing the final 2–1 to Italy.

A second golden age arrived in the 1950s, driven by world-class talents Ernst Ocwirk, Ernst Happel, and Gerhard Hanappi. Austria's 1954 World Cup campaign is widely regarded as one of their finest performances on the global stage. Austria became a UEFA founding member in 1954 and has since participated in numerous World Cups, including appearances in 1978, 1982, 1990, and 1998.

Today the ÖFB is Austria's largest sporting organisation, with over 285,000 registered players across 2,309 clubs, and continues to develop football at all levels throughout the country.