Overview
- The 26-year-old midfielder suffered a right-thigh muscle injury during the pre-match warm-up for Monday’s friendly with Tunisia and withdrew before kickoff.
- An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the muscle injury and Austria’s football association announced Baumgartner cannot take part in the World Cup.
- Captain David Alaba, who was substituted at halftime of the Tunisia game with a leg tightness, has been medically cleared to travel with the squad.
- Baumgartner had been a key attacking figure after scoring 17 goals and providing nine assists for RB Leipzig this season, leaving a notable tactical and leadership gap for coach Ralf Rangnick to address.
- Team officials are urgently seeking a replacement as Austria prepares to travel in early June and open Group J against Jordan on June 16, with tougher tests to follow against Argentina and Algeria.