EXTRA TIME

Kit launch ante portas

West Ham have officially teased their new 2026-27 home kit, giving fans a first glimpse at their inaugural release with new kit supplier New Balance. The club posted a close-up image of the shirt on social media today, signaling that a full reveal is imminent. This marks the beginning of West Ham’s partnership with New Balance, who take over from previous long-term supplier Umbro.

On the same day West Ham confirmed that 42,000 season tickets for the club‘s first season after relegation to the Championship have been sold. This shows the big support from the Claret and Blue Army regardless of the drop from the Premier League.

Excitement and an increasing hope that things are getting better are following David Sullivan’s and Karen Brady’s departure from the Board. The new interim CEO Karim Virani has even launched an official fan consultation on the future of West Ham’s crest which has repeatedly been criticised by some parts of its supporters.

And with the fixture list of the new season now confirmed and opening day in August approaching there could be even more season ticket renewals until the deadline on Friday.

I am looking forward to a new season in a hopefully beautiful new kit, with new opponents and a new spirit!

Come on you Irons!

July 1, 2026 at 7:54 pm Leave a comment

Father and Son

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Scotland, Turkey and Uruguay out, Germany and Holland out, too. And England just rescued victory from jaws of defeat against DR Congo courtesy to two second half goals (**Harry Kane** 75‘, 86‘). And tomorrow the **Austrian team** will play Spain in the round of last XVI.

July 1, 2026 at 7:14 pm Leave a comment

Algeria 3 Austria 3 – mayhem in injury time!

Algeria and Austria produced an incredible finish as both secured the point they needed to reach the World Cup knockout stages – and eliminated Iran.

Austria – who led twice – were heading out when Riyad Mahrez scored his second of the game to put Algeria 3-2 ahead in the 93rd minute.

Austria and Algeria had gone into this match knowing a draw would take them both through, but in this match there was no sense of a repeat of the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’. With 3-2 Algeria would have not only gone through to the knock-out stages of the World Cup, but would have denied Austria, the country forever intertwined in their history because of that infamous match at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a group match, where both teams went through at the expense of Algeria.

But then Sasa Kalajdzic headed an equaliser in 96th-minute – two minutes more than was allotted – just 61 seconds after coming off the bench to secure a point in the most dramatic of finales of this Group J meeting. The goal sparked dramatic scenes of celebration among the Austria contingent in Kansas City.

In snatching that late 3-3 draw, Austria became the first team to avoid defeat in a World Cup match having fallen behind after the 90-minute mark. Victory means that Austria will play Spain on Thursday, 2 July.

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June 28, 2026 at 3:02 pm Leave a comment

London will steal your heart

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June 23, 2026 at 6:13 am Leave a comment

How did Austria fare at the World Cup?

(Gemini)

The Austria men’s national football team has qualified for and participated in eight FIFA World Cups (1934, 1954, 1958, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1998, and 2026). Across these tournaments, they have played a total of 29 matches, compiling a record of 12 wins, 4 draws, and 13 losses.

1934 FIFA World Cup (Italy) — 4th Place

Austria 3–2 France (Round of 16 — after extra time)
Austria 2–1 Hungary (Quarter-finals)
Italy 1–0 Austria (Semi-finals)
Germany 3–2 Austria (Third-place play-off)

1954 FIFA World Cup (Switzerland) — 3rd Place (Best Finish)

Austria 1–0 Scotland (Group Stage)
Austria 5–0 Czechoslovakia (Group Stage)
Austria 7–5 Switzerland (Quarter-finals — Highest-scoring match in World Cup history)
West Germany 6–1 Austria (Semi-finals)
Austria 3–1 Uruguay (Third-place play-off)

1958 FIFA World Cup (Sweden) — Group Stage

Brazil 3–0 Austria (Group Stage)
Soviet Union 2–0 Austria (Group Stage)
England 2–2 Austria (Group Stage)

1978 FIFA World Cup (Argentina) — Second Round

Austria 2–1 Spain (First Group Stage)
Austria 1–0 Sweden (First Group Stage)
Brazil 1–0 Austria (First Group Stage)
Netherlands 5–1 Austria (Second Group Stage)
Italy 1–0 Austria (Second Group Stage)
Austria 3–2 West Germany (Second Group Stage — Famous match known as the “Miracle of Córdoba”)

1982 FIFA World Cup (Spain) — Second Round

Austria 1–0 Chile (First Group Stage)
Austria 2–0 Algeria (First Group Stage)
West Germany 1–0 Austria (First Group Stage — The highly controversial “Disgrace of Gijón”)
France 1–0 Austria (Second Group Stage)
Austria 2–2 Northern Ireland (Second Group Stage)

1990 FIFA World Cup (Italy) — Group Stage

Italy 1–0 Austria (Group Stage)
Czechoslovakia 1–0 Austria (Group Stage)
Austria 2–1 USA (Group Stage)

1998 FIFA World Cup (France) — Group Stage

Austria 1–1 Cameroon (Group Stage)
Austria 1–1 Chile (Group Stage)
Italy 2–1 Austria (Group Stage)

2026 FIFA World Cup (USA/Canada/Mexico) — Ongoing

Austria 3–1 Jordan (Group Stage)
(Note: Austria also successfully qualified for the 1938 World Cup in France, but was forced to withdraw before playing a single match due to the country’s annexation by Germany.)

June 17, 2026 at 10:18 am Leave a comment