Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Austria
Match Time & Date:
6 September 2025
19:45
Prediction: 3-0
Cyprus
Buoyed by back-to-back wins over Romania (2-1) and San Marino (4-0), Austria will look to keep their 100% record in Group H intact as they welcome Cyprus to their Raiffeisen Arena. The Austrians made a promising start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and they are seen as hot favourites to beat the Cypriotes at home as well. The good news for the hosts is that new Crvena Zvezda striker Marko Arnautovic opened his goal-scoring account in a 5-1 win over Novi Pazar at the weekend. Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been omitted.
The visitors, on the other hand, failed to impress in back-to-back losses to Bosnia & Herzegovina (1-2) and Romania (0-2) and given their difficulties on the road, we predict that Austria will give fans yet another reason to celebrate on Saturday. The good news for the visiting team is that CSKA Sofia forward Ioannis Pittas is back from suspension.
Highlighted Player (David Alaba):
David Alaba started his youth career at SV Aspern and in 2002 he joined Austria Wien. Bayern Munich chiefs decided to sign him and he was promoted to the reserve team for the 2009/2010 campaign. He made 33 appearances for Bayern Munich II and he has been playing for the first team since 2010. At the age of 17 Alaba made his Champions League debut on 9 March, 2010 against Fiorentina.
The Austrian international is a full back, but he is capable of playing as a left midfielder as well. He represented Austria at the 2016 European Championship finals in France, but das Team failed to impress at the showpiece tournament, suffering elimination in the group stages. David Alaba won his fifth Bundesliga title with Bayern in the 2015/2016 season and he clinched the Champions League trophy with FCB in 2013.
Speaking of his individual honours, he was named Austrian Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Alaba was born in Wien on 24 June, 1992.
Highlighted Team (Cyprus):
Cyprus’ first match took place back in July, 1949, only one year after they became a member of FIFA. The Cypriotes played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Maccabi Tel Aviv and seven days later they played their first international game. Cyprus suffered a 3-1 loss to Israel in Tel Aviv back then and in November, 1960 they had their first official match as an independent country.
The Cyprus national football team shared the spoils with Israel in the 1962 World Cup qualifier and three years later they recorded their first international win (3-1 over Greece). Cyprus suffered their biggest loss on May 21, 1969, with the team losing to West Germany 12-0 and in 2000 they hammered Andorra 5-0 which is considered the team’s biggest win.
The Cypriotes have yet to qualify for the finals of the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship, but their victory over Bosnia in Zenica in the Euro 2016 qualifiers will be remembered. GSP Stadium in Nicosia is considered the national team’s home ground.
Georgia 
Turkey
Bulgaria 
Spain
Liechtenstein
Belgium
Luxembourg 
Northern Ireland 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Slovakia 
Germany
