Austria vs Tunisia 1 June 2026 Prediction

Austria will play two friendlies before the start of the World Cup. Tunisia will be the first test opponent. The matchup was chosen for a reason, as Ralf Rangnick’s team will face another African side, Algeria, in the group stage. Can Austria beat a lower-profile opponent at home?

Austria’s Pressing Game

In World Cup qualifying, the hosts won six of eight matches with a 22:4 goal difference. At home, they beat solid Romania (2-1) and Cyprus (1-0), and also shared points with another upcoming World Cup participant, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1). Austria heads into the tournament with an almost full-strength squad. At the moment, Ralf Rangnick is without only Patrick Wimmer, who should be ready by the start of the World Cup. David Alaba is also in the squad: the captain has made 112 appearances for the national team.

The center of defense will be led by the Bundesliga duo of Philipp Lienhart and Marco Friedl. Thanks to their organization, Austria kept opponents scoreless in four of eight qualifying matches. Konrad Laimer had a strong season with Bayern, recording 15 goal contributions. He is an important player for Rangnick and can be used both at full-back and in the holding midfield role.

Among the attacking players, Christoph Baumgartner stands out. The Leipzig midfielder produced 17 goals and 9 assists this season. Up front, Austria has veteran Marko Arnautović, the national team’s all-time appearance leader with 132 caps and 47 goals.

Tunisia Will Try to Change Its History

Tunisia faced little resistance in qualifying, finishing the campaign with a 22:0 goal difference. Against Namibia and Liberia, who finished second and third respectively, the visitors took 10 points from a possible 12 and beat each of them 3-0 once. This will be Tunisia’s third straight World Cup and seventh overall, but the team has never advanced from the group stage.

Sabri Lamouchi has put together a competitive squad. Among the defenders, Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi stand out, with both playing in Ligue 1 for Lorient and Nice respectively. They will be supported by experienced midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who has 81 caps for the national team. Hazem Mastouri was also called up. The Dynamo Makhachkala forward has played 18 matches for Tunisia and scored 4 goals.

Austria vs Tunisia Predicted Lineup

Austria (4-2-3-1): A. Schlager — Laimer, Lienhart, Friedl, Mwene — Seiwald, Grillitsch — Wanner, Baumgartner, Sabitzer — Arnautović

Will not play: Wimmer (injury)

Manager: Ralf Rangnick

Tunisia (4-2-3-1): Dahmen — Valery, Talbi, Bronn, Abdi — Skhiri, Khedira — Gharbi, Mejbri, Achouri — Mastouri

Will not play: —

Manager: Sabri Lamouchi

Austria vs Tunisia Prediction: Austria to Win With a (-1.5) Handicap at 2.46

• Main pick: Austria is the deserved favorite here. First, this is a home match before the team travels to the United States, so Rangnick’s players will want to give their fans a strong performance. Second, the gap in quality is clear: Austria is 24th in the FIFA rankings, while Tunisia is only 44th. Austria’s home form also supports this pick, with five wins in its last six matches. In March, the team won two friendlies against Ghana (5-1) and South Korea (1-0). Tunisia will face one of Europe’s most aggressive pressing teams, and few opponents handle that pressure comfortably. We will take Austria to win with a (-1.5) handicap at 2.46.
• Goals prediction: Tunisia tries to play proactively, but it is unlikely to break down Austria’s high-level defense. The hosts conceded only four goals in eight World Cup qualifiers and just two across their last five home matches. With Austria’s pressure and aggressive pressing, the visitors may struggle to create enough chances. We expect Rangnick’s team to win without conceding. Take both teams to score — no at 1.71.
• Correct score prediction: Tunisia is weaker than Austria, but this African side should not be treated as a very easy opponent. Austria has recorded big wins since 2025 only against San Marino (4-0, 10-0). We do not expect a one-sided scoreline, but Austria should still show its class. Our correct score pick is 2-0 at 6.40.