David Alaba: Austria are shooting for the stars

Austria captain David Alaba has expressed his excitement ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he will finally grace the global showpiece for the first time in his illustrious career. The 33-year-old defender, who has won numerous domestic, continental, and global titles with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, will lead his country in North America as Austria make their first World Cup appearance since 1998.

A Dream Come True

Alaba, born in Vienna, described the upcoming tournament as a dream come true. "I'm really buzzing ahead of the tournament. It's going to be a dream come true. It's the sort of event that you can't help but feel grateful to have the chance to experience and be part of," he told FIFA. "Playing in my first World Cup will definitely be right up there in terms of anything I've experienced. It was arguably one of the few things missing from my career, so it's going to be really special."

The defender recalled the emotional night when Austria secured their qualification against Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The night of the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, when we got over the line, was full of emotion for all of us. I could see in my team-mates' eyes what it meant to them. It was a really incredible feeling."

Team Progress and Leadership

Under manager Ralf Rangnick, Austria have shown significant improvement in recent years. "We've come a long way as a team, especially in the last few years. We've now got a huge amount of quality running through the side, and you can see that in our performances," Alaba said. "We've built up real confidence, and we want to take that into the tournament and show what we're made of."

As captain, Alaba embraces his responsibility. "I know the role I have within the team. I embrace the responsibility and try to play my part and stay true to myself. I want to lead by example, carry the team on my shoulders and conduct myself in line with my values." He added that the team makes it easy for him to be himself, and he remains relaxed despite the pressure.

Group J Challenge

Austria have been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, defending champions Argentina, and Jordan. Alaba acknowledged the difficulty of the group. "That's a very good question. It's going to be a first taste of the World Cup for all of us. We have to stay calm while making sure that we do all the right things to give ourselves the best possible chance of success," he said.

Regarding Argentina, Alaba emphasized the challenge beyond just Lionel Messi. "It's not only about Messi: getting to play against Argentina is amazing in itself. They're the reigning world champions, after all." He believes Austria's strength lies in their unity. "One of our biggest strengths is the fact that we're a really tight-knit unit. If we manage to show that out on the pitch, we have what it takes to be successful."

Looking Ahead

Alaba, who is approaching the latter stages of his career, remains focused on the task at hand. "I'm certainly drawing closer to the end of my career. I know the role I have within the team, though. I embrace the responsibility and try to play my part and stay true to myself." He expressed confidence in the squad's character and ambition, stating, "We're a very ambitious team. We have to stay calm while making sure that we do all the right things to give ourselves the best possible chance of success."