Austria: Christoph Baumgartner forced to pull out of the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup will take place without Christoph Baumgartner. The Austrian attacking midfielder has been forced to withdraw after suffering a right thigh injury during preparations.

Baumgartner picked up the injury to his right thigh during the warm-up ahead of the friendly match against Tunisia. Medical examinations, including an MRI scan carried out the following day, confirmed a lengthy absence, ruling him out of the tournament.

This absence is a real blow for Austria's World Cup ambitions. Baumgartner was a key attacking asset and one of the most experienced players in the squad.

Visibly affected but determined, Baumgartner will now focus on his rehabilitation with the aim of returning to top form in the coming months. He is expected to begin an intensive treatment program as soon as he returns to his club.

This situation forces the Austrian head coach to rethink his attacking plans just months before the start of the tournament.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.