Preview: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Austria - prediction, team news, lineups

Group H leaders Bosnia-Herzegovina will meet second-placed Austria on Tuesday night, as the top two continue their fight for one automatic place at World Cup 2026.

Before clashing in Zenica, both sides have a perfect record so far - but the Austrians trail by three points with one game in hand.

Match preview

Resuming their campaign with a routine win, Bosnia beat 10-man San Marino 6-0 on Saturday - albeit they only led by one until the 70th minute.

All-time top scorer Edin Dzeko finally netted a second goal that opened the floodgates, and a fourth straight Group H victory followed.

After starting with back-to-back wins in March, the Dragons had preserved their early advantage by beating San Marino at the start of June, when Dzeko's lone goal separated the sides in Zenica.

Seeking their second World Cup qualification as an independent state - and a first since 2014 - Bosnia are therefore on track to reach next year's finals.

They lead higher-ranked pair Romania and Austria in the table, though the latter lurk just three points behind with an extra game in hand.

Head coach Sergej Barbarez may have recovered from a sticky start to his reign, but this match must represent his biggest test so far: another win would leave Bosnia in total control of top spot.

Playing the role of chasers, Austria started their campaign late due to taking part in last season's UEFA Nations League playoffs.

Ever since, the group favourites have been hunting down Bosnia, who they have beaten just once in five prior meetings this century.

Upcoming clashes with their main rivals will dictate whether they finish first or claim a consolation place in the playoffs, having previously put three straight wins on the board.

First, Ralf Rangnick's side beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna, before notching four goals within half an hour against San Marino.

On Saturday, they saw off Cyprus, with an edgy 1-0 win secured by Marcel Sabitzer's second-half penalty maintaining their flawless record.

After his team showed potential at last year's Euros, Rangnick is under pressure to deliver Austria's first World Cup qualification since France '98, so there is no room for error between now and November.

Bosnia-Herzegovina World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

W W W W

Bosnia-Herzegovina form (all competitions):

D W W W L W

Austria World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

W W W

Austria form (all competitions):

D D L W W W

Team News

Sergej Barbarez must mull over whether to continue pairing captain Edin Dzeko with Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic in attack, as Bosnia may need to add an extra midfielder against top seeds Austria.

The hosts are missing several men this month, as Anel Ahmedhodzic remains in exile, fellow defenders Arjan Malic and Sead Kolasinac are sidelined by injury, while Ermin Bicakcic is without a club and has been dropped.

So, either Dzenis Burnic or Amar Dedic will fill in at left-back, with Stjepan Radeljic and Adrian-Leon Barisic set to link up in central defence; Austria-born Jusuf Gazibegovic should start on the right.

Austria's back line was boosted by the return of captain David Alaba at the weekend, as the Real Madrid man made his first international appearance since recovering from a major meniscus tear.

Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager also started against Cyprus after a wrist injury kept him out of June's qualifiers, but Maximilian Wober and Gernot Trauner are both sidelined, while Como defender Stefan Posch must serve a suspension.

Once again, veteran striker Marko Arnautovic should start up front, with Andreas Weimann and Michael Gregoritsch providing different options from the bench.

Bosnia-Herzegovina possible starting lineup: Vasilj; Gazibegovic, Barisic, Radeljic, Burnic; Hajradinovic, Tahirovic, Sunjic, Memic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Austria possible starting lineup: A. Schlager; Laimer, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; X. Schlager, Seiwald; Schmid, Baumgartner, Sabitzer; Arnautovic