⚽ World Cup & Learning German: Vocabulary, Public Viewing & Austrian Football

Football is also more than just a sport in Austria – especially during a World Cup. In 2026, the excitement is particularly high: Austria is taking part in a men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

For German learners, the World Cup is a perfect opportunity to experience German in everyday life: at public viewing events, in cafés, at work or on the tram.

In this article, you will learn:

1. 🏆 Why the 2026 World Cup is particularly special for Austria

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For Austria, qualifying for the tournament is something historic:

👉 The Austrian men’s national team is taking part in a World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Many Austrians still remember the legendary World Cup appearances of the past – especially the famous “Wunderteam” of the 1930s or the 1978 World Cup, when Austria achieved a legendary victory over Germany in the match known as “Das Wunder von Cordoba”.

For younger generations, however, this is the first time they are actively experiencing Austria taking part in this major international tournament.

The current team is considered one of the strongest Austrian teams in decades. Under head coach Ralf Rangnick, Austria plays modern, aggressive pressing football and has once again attracted international attention.

2. ⭐ Key players of the Austrian national team

David Alaba

David Alaba is Austria’s best-known footballer. He played for many years for FC Bayern Munich & Real Madrid and won numerous titles, including four Champions League titles. He has also taken part in two European Championships.

Apart from his football skills, he is also appreciated for his “Schmäh” (= Austrian humour and wit).

📍 Position: Defence / defensive midfield

Marcel Sabitzer

Marcel Sabitzer is one of the team’s emotional leaders. He is a midfield all-rounder, known for his passion and commitment.

He currently plays for Borussia Dortmund. Before that, he played for clubs including Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

📍 Position: Midfield

Marko Arnautović

Marko Arnautović is one of the most colourful Austrian footballers of recent years. He is polarising, emotional and sometimes provocative – but at the same time, his experience makes him extremely important to the team.

Many fans love his direct personality. He currently plays for Red Star Belgrade, but has also played in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, China and England.

📍 Position: Forward

3. 🏟️ Vienna’s football clubs

The big ones – SK Rapid & FK Austria

Rapid Wien is Austria’s most traditional football club and has a particularly passionate fan base. The atmosphere at the green Allianz Stadion in Hütteldorf is considered legendary.

With 32 league titles, the Hütteldorf club is the record champion of Austrian football, although their most recent title was 18 years ago. Rapid have also reached the final of a European club competition twice, in 1985 and 1996. An absolute club legend is Hans Krankl.

FK Austria Wien, known as the “Veilchen” (Violets) because of their purple colours, is the city’s other major club. They have won 24 league titles, the most recent in 2013. The club is based in Favoriten, at the Generali Arena.

In 2026, the women’s team is celebrating particularly impressive success: they are both Austrian champions and cup winners!

The derbies against Rapid are emotional highlights of Austrian football.

The “cult clubs” – Wiener Sport-Club & First Vienna

These two clubs do not currently play in the top division, but they have a firm place in the hearts of many Viennese. Matches between the two clubs are known as the “Derby of Love” because the two sets of fans appreciate each other while still creating a unique atmosphere.

The blue-and-yellow First Vienna is Austria’s oldest football club, founded in 1894. The club plays at the traditional Hohe Warte stadium in Döbling.

For Wiener Sport-Club fans, their stadium is the heart of the club: Sport-Club-Platz in Hernals, with its famous “Friedhofstribüne”, has recently been renovated and reopened. It is also the new home stadium of the Austrian women’s national team.

The fan scenes of both clubs are known for their open-minded, tolerant and peaceful support – something that is unfortunately not always a given in football.

4. 🧠 German football vocabulary

Here you will find important words that you will often hear when watching football or attending a public viewing event in Austria. Let’s start with the key people on the pitch (using the masculine forms relevant to the upcoming men’s World Cup):

Next, let’s look at the most important actions during a match:

Here are some other important football terms:

And finally, here is some football vocabulary used in Austria. Football language in Austria is somewhat different from Germany – and contains many old English expressions!

Important information for watching the World Cup:

• The matches will be shown free-to-air on TV and online on ORF and ServusTV.
• Because of the time difference, there are not many large public viewing locations in Vienna. One option is the “Immersive Center” at the Danube Tower.
• Prefer watching football indoors? Check out this list of football-crazy pubs!

👉 Use your new football vocabulary in our conversation courses in Vienna.

5. 🧠 How football can help you improve your German

Football is a great way to learn a language because:

• emotions help you learn
• words are repeated again and again
• you hear real spoken German
• and conversations naturally develop

Here are some ways you can actively learn with football:

• Listen to football commentary
• Read short match reports
• Watch fan videos
• Write down new terms
• Watch matches with Austrian friends

Zu kompliziert? Wir können helfen!

Melde dich jetzt für einen Deutschkurs in Wien an und lerne effektiv Deutsch in Kleingruppen und mit hochqualifizierten Lehrkräften.

Kurs kostenlos anfragen +4319557955

💬 Conclusion: Football brings people together – and helps you learn German

The 2026 World Cup is something special for Austria. For German learners, it is also a great opportunity to experience language and culture together.

You can learn:

• everyday vocabulary
• Austrian expressions
• emotions and humour
• and cultural insights

👉 The perfect combination: football + conversation + actively learning German.

Have fun watching, cheering and learning German! ⚽.

More tips for improving your German can be found here: DIALOG Blog – Tips for Learning German

June 2026