Devet igralcev z SP sanjami, nič na SP: Paradoks Sturma

A champion without World Cup players

Seven Austrian Bundesliga players are at the 2026 World Cup — for Panama, Bosnia, Australia, South Korea and Austria. Not one is from Sturm Graz.

Imagine: you are Austria's champion. Back-to-back. You played Champions League football against Liverpool, Dortmund, Atalanta — full story here. Your best players represent Georgia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Poland, Costa Rica. And then — at the 2026 World Cup — your club watches from home.

That's the story of SK Sturm Graz at the 2026 World Cup. It's more complicated, sadder and more fascinating than it looks at first glance.

The seven Bundesliga players in North America

Seven active Austrian Bundesliga players are at the World Cup — across five nations, four clubs.

LASK dominates the list: Andrés Andrade (27) represents Panama with 48 caps. Panama face England, Croatia and Ghana in Group L. Saša Kalajdžić and Alessandro Schöpf wear the Austrian shirt.

RB Salzburg sends Alexander Schlager (Austria) and Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia). The 18-year-old Alajbegović transfers to Bayer Leverkusen after the tournament, but was still a Salzburg player when nominated. He showed nerves of steel in the play-offs against Wales and Italy. Bosnia face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.

GAK is the surprise entry: Jacob Italiano (24, Australia) made his senior debut on October 11, 2025. Four caps later, he's playing at a World Cup. The Socceroos face the USA, Paraguay and Turkey in Group D.

Austria Wien completes the picture: Lee Tae-seok (South Korea) has 14 caps and one goal. South Korea face hosts Mexico, South Africa and Czech Republic in Group A.

Sturm Graz: Nine ambitions, zero places

Georgia: the group of death

Otar Kiteishvili and Gizo Mamageishvili play for Georgia. After the EURO 2024 fairytale (a win over Portugal!), Georgia had real World Cup hopes. Their qualifying group: Spain and Turkey. Kiteishvili played through injury, giving everything. It wasn't enough.

Slovenia: the Kosovo shock

Tomi Horvat and Jon Gorenc Stanković fought for Slovenia. The low point didn't come against a major nation — Slovenia lost to Kosovo. World Cup qualification missed.

Mitchell and Rózga: nations that didn't qualify

Jeyland Mitchell (Costa Rica) stays at Sturm Graz — but the Ticos aren't there. Costa Rica was eliminated from CONCACAF qualifying for the first time since 2006. Filip Rózga wanted to go to the World Cup with Poland. Poland didn't qualify.

The Bosnia chapter: the most painful story

Here is the real heart of the paradox. Bosnia qualified. Bosnia is at the World Cup. But three Sturm players are not in the squad.

Emir Karić made perhaps the most courageous move: he switched from the Austrian federation to the Bosnian federation. Not for sentimental reasons — for the World Cup. Coach Barbarez didn't select him.

Jusuf Gazibegović was a regular Bosnian international for years. His last cap in September 2025 was against Austria. No place in the final squad.

Arjan Malić reportedly missed out due to lack of playing time in the spring. He's on the standby list — one injury in the Bosnian squad and the phone might ring.

The spot went to Kerim Alajbegović (Salzburg, 18) — and he earned it. But for Karić, who switched federation for this chance, the season ends without a World Cup.

The Salzburg pipeline

Looking beyond current Bundesliga players: former Salzburg players are all over this World Cup. Erling Haaland (Norway), Sadio Mané (Senegal), Noah Okafor (Switzerland), Dayot Upamecano (France), Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea), Luka Sučić (Croatia), Brendan Aaronson (USA). And on the touchline: Jesse Marsch is coaching Canada.

The Austrian Bundesliga is more internationally relevant than its reputation suggests.

Which Austrian Bundesliga players are at World Cup 2026?

Seven active players: Andrés Andrade (LASK/Panama), Kerim Alajbegović (Salzburg/Bosnia), Jacob Italiano (GAK/Australia), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien/South Korea), Alexander Schlager (Salzburg/Austria), Alessandro Schöpf (LASK/Austria), Saša Kalajdžić (LASK/Austria). As of June 3, 2026.

Why does Sturm Graz have no World Cup player?

Sturm had nine players with World Cup ambitions: Georgians (Kiteishvili, Mamageishvili) knocked out by a death group of Spain and Turkey; Slovenians (Horvat, Stanković) eliminated in a shock result; Rózga (Poland) and Mitchell (Costa Rica) through nations that didn't qualify. The Bosnian trio of Karić, Gazibegović, Malić — Bosnia qualified but all three were cut from the squad.

Why did Emir Karić switch federations?

Karić switched from the Austrian to the Bosnian federation hoping for a World Cup chance. Bosnia qualified — but he was excluded from the final squad.