World Cup qualifying: Austria and Switzerland secure top spots

Austria came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, which booked their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were on course to leapfrog Austria into top spot in Group H after Haris Tabakovic gave them a 12th-minute lead.

Ralf Rangnick’s side were then denied an equaliser just before the break, when Konrad Laimer drilled in off the post, only for it to be chalked off after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up.

Both sides saw golden chances go begging in the second half, but Michael Gregoritsch got the telling touch in the end, pouncing on a rebound to score the all-important goal in the 77th minute.

Switzerland secured first place in Group B after they held off a late Kosovo fightback in a 1-1 draw.

Ruben Vargas netted two minutes into the second half, but Florent Muslija scored a stunning goal in the 74th minute to see the points shared and keep Kosovo’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time alive, as they head into the play-offs.

Sweden, meanwhile, finished bottom of that group after earning just their second point of the qualifying campaign after a 1-1 draw with Slovenia.

Timi Max Elsnik had given Slovenia the lead shortly after the hour, but Sweden debutant Gustav Lundgren slotted in from close range three minutes from time to end a run of four straight defeats.

Data Debrief: Austria back on the world stage

It has been 28 years since Austria last appeared at a World Cup, but like Scotland and Norway, they have now ended their long wait for a place in FIFA’s premier competition.

Having been frustrated in the first half, Austria kept the pressure on after the break, scoring with their first shot on target in the second half.

Bosnia, though, did not test Alexander Shlager after the interval, and managed just 0.22 expected goals in the second half.