The Austrians will be playing for a place in next year’s World Cup during the upcoming international break. Surprisingly, they will be supported by a former Schalke player.

When Austria battles for qualification in early September against Cyprus and Bosnia-Herzegovina, a former Schalke player will surprisingly be part of the team.

Alessandro Schöpf joined Wolfsberger AC in February 2025. The former Schalke player immediately celebrated the ÖFB Cup victory.

He has already played in four competitions for Wolfsberg this season.

And now he will also play for the national team. Coach Ralf Rangnick has nominated the central midfielder. Schöpf played his last international match for Austria on March 29, 2022 (2-2 against Scotland).

Schöpf played for Schalke for five and a half years

Schöpf trained in the youth teams of SV Längenfeld and AKA Tirol before FC Bayern Munich snapped him up and brought him into their own youth academy. The attacking midfielder progressed through all the youth teams and made it to the professional squad, but did not play in any competitive matches. Schöpf immediately became a regular at the second division club, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 32 games. After another strong first half of the season with 19 games, six goals, and four assists, FC Schalke 04 made their move in the winter of 2016.Schöpf remained with the Royal Blues for five and a half years, playing a total of 143 games (16 goals, ten assists). With the club’s relegation from the Bundesliga in the summer of 2021, Schöpf left the miners and moved to Arminia Bielefeld on a free transfer. Another year later, he moved to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. In February 2025, he signed with Wolfsberger AC. In his first engagement in his native Austria, he immediately won the ÖFB Cup.

Austria’s squad at a glance

GOALKEEPERS

Tobias Lawal, KRC Genk

Patrick Pentz, Bröndby IF

Alexander Schlager, Red Bull Salzburg

DEFENDERS

David Alaba, Real Madrid

Samson Baidoo, RC Lens

Kevin Danso, Tottenham Hotspur

Philipp Lienhart, SC Freiburg

Phillipp Mwene, 1. FSV Mainz 05

Stefan Posch, FC Bologna

Alexander Prass, TSG Hoffenheim

Leopold Querfeld, Union Berlin

MIDFIELD

Christoph Baumgartner, RB Leipzig

Florian Grillitsch, TSG Hoffenheim

Marco Grüll, Werder Bremen

Konrad Laimer, FC Bayern

Marcel Sabitzer, Borussia Dortmund

Xaver Schlager, RB Leipzig

Romano Schmid, Werder Bremen

Alessandro Schöpf, Wolfsberger AC

Nicolas Seiwald, RB Leipzig

Patrick Wimmer, VfL Wolfsburg

FORWARD

Marko Arnautovic, Red Star Belgrade Raul Florucz, Union Saint-Gilloise Michael Gregoritsch, Bröndby IF Andreas Weimann, Derby County Nikolaus Wurmbrand, SK Rapid