World Cup preview: FCA stars on the biggest stage
Tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA
First Team
10.06.2026, 10:30
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States kicks off on Thursday evening, and FC Augsburg will be well represented at the competition. Six players have been called up to their national squads and are aiming to make their mark at the tournament.
Fabian Rieder (Switzerland)
Fabian Rieder is set to feature at a World Cup for the second time, having also been part of the 2022 squad. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder is now a regular member of the Swiss national team and brings considerable international experience. Since making his debut in November 2022, he has earned 28 caps for Switzerland, scoring once and providing three assists.
In the immediate run-up to the tournament, Switzerland have played two friendlies. Rieder featured for 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Australia, while he was rested in the 4-1 win over Jordan. During the World Cup, the Swiss team will be based in San Diego, California.
In group B, Switzerland will face Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and hosts Canada. Their opening match takes place on Saturday, 13th June at 21:00 CEST. The remaining group fixtures are scheduled for Thursday, 18th June and Wednesday, 24th June, both also at 21:00 CEST.
Michael Gregoritsch (Austria)
Michael Gregoritsch played a key role in Austria’s successful qualification for the tournament, scoring the decisive equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina that secured their place at the World Cup. For the Austria national team, this marks a special achievement as it is their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Understandably, then, Gregoritsch looks back on his decisive goal with a great deal of emotion and describes it as “the most emotional moment of my career and certainly also the most incredible day of my life as a footballer”.
Since his debut in September 2016, the striker has made 75 appearances for Austria, scoring 24 goals and providing seven assists. Gregoritsch has been part of the national team’s core group for years and has also shown his goalscoring threat at major tournaments. He scored at EURO 2021 against North Macedonia in the group stage and at EURO 2024 against Turkey in the round of 16. With his experience, he plays an important role within the team. More than anything else, he says it’s all about “always being there for the lads – whether on or off the pitch”.
In preparation for the World Cup, the FCA forward also proved to be in good form. In the friendly against Ghana in March, he contributed one goal and one assist. In Austria’s final warm-up match, they beat Tunisia 1-0, with Gregoritsch playing one half. With great anticipation, he will now travel to the final competition and stressed: “We want to go as far as possible and we’re setting ourselves no limits. I will focus on enjoying it – and then success will come by itself.”
In the group stage, Austria face Jordan in group J on Wednesday, 17th June at 06:00 CEST. This is followed by matches against reigning champions Argentina on Monday, 22nd June at 19:00 CEST and Algeria on Sunday, 28th June at 04:00 CEST. During the World Cup, the Austria team will be based in Santa Barbara, California.
Kristijan Jakić (Croatia)
Kristijan Jakić was already part of Croatia’s squad at the 2022 World Cup. The Croatian international even featured in the 2-1 victory over Morocco in the third-place play-off.
Since his debut in October 2021, Jakić has made 17 appearances for Croatia, scoring two goals and providing two assists. In recent years, he has regularly been part of the national team and also impressed in qualification for the upcoming tournament. In the final qualifying match against Montenegro, the FCA player contributed one goal and one assist, playing a decisive role in Croatia finishing top of the group with 22 points. In preparation for the World Cup, Croatia also won 2-1 against Slovenia in a friendly
During the tournament, the Croatia national team will be based in Alexandria in the US state of Virginia. In the group stage, Croatia in group L face England on 17th June at 22:00 CEST, Panama on 24th June at 01:00 CEST and Ghana on 27th June at 23:00 CEST..
Ismaël Gharbi and Elias Saad (Tunisia)
Ismaël Gharbi and Elias Saad have both been included in Tunisia’s squad for the World Cup. In group F, the pair will hope to be involved as their side comes up against Sweden (15th June, 04:00 CEST), Japan (21st June, 06:00 CEST) and the Netherlands (26th June, 01:00 CEST). The team will make their base in Monterrey, Mexico, throughout the tournament.
Gharbi, despite his young age, is already an established member of the national team. The 22-year-old, currently on loan at FCA from parent club Sporting Braga, previously represented France and Spain at youth level before committing to Tunisia. Since making his debut in September 2025, he has earned 17 caps. He featured in Tunisia’s recent friendly fixtures ahead of the World Cup, playing in the 1-0 defeat to Austria and a 5-0 loss to Belgium, where he was sent off after 62 minutes.
Saad, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Hannover 96, is expected to add attacking impetus. Since his debut in March 2024, he has earned 15 caps, scoring three goals and providing two assists. The Hamburg native also provided an assist at the Africa Cup of Nations in the round of 16. In the latest friendlies, Saad came on for eight minutes against Austria and did not feature against Belgium.
Nathanaël Mbuku (DR Congo)
Nathanaël Mbuku hope to make his World Cup debut this year. The winger, who spent last season on loan at Montpellier HSC, is part of the Democratic Republic of Congo squad. Since his debut in October 2024, he has earned 19 caps and scored twice. DR Congo qualified via the intercontinental play-offs, marking their first World Cup appearance in 52 years.
In the most recent friendly ties, they drew 0-0 with Denmark, with Mbuku coming on shortly before the final whistle, and lost 2-1 to Chile, a game which saw him named in the starting XI.
In group E, DR Congo face Portugal on 17th June at 19:00 CEST, Colombia on 24th June at 04:00 CEST, and Uzbekistan on 28th June at 01:30 CEST. The team will be based in Houston, Texas, during the tournament.
