Austria marked their return to the FIFA World Cup after a 28-year absence with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over tournament debutants Jordan in a lively Group J encounter, thanks largely to veteran striker Marko Arnautovic's influential second-half display.

Played on a chilly evening in the San Francisco Bay Area, the match proved far more competitive than many had anticipated, with Jordan pushing Austria throughout and threatening to pull off a surprise result on the global stage.

Austria took the lead in the 21st minute through Romano Schmid, who unleashed a powerful long-range strike that flew into the top corner. The goal rewarded Austria's growing control after an energetic start from Jordan, who had created the first real opening of the game when captain Ehsan Haddad fired into the side netting following a quick counter-attack.

While Austria enjoyed the majority of possession and dictated much of the tempo, Jordan remained dangerous on the break. The pace and movement of Ali Olwan and Musa Al-Taamari repeatedly tested the Austrian defence and ensured the contest remained open.

Jordan's persistence paid off shortly after the restart. Five minutes into the second half, Olwan surged down the left flank before producing a clinical finish that struck the far post and bounced in, bringing the scores level and sparking celebrations among the Jordanian supporters.

The equaliser shifted momentum and briefly put Austria under pressure. Seeking greater attacking urgency, the Austrian coaching staff introduced experienced forward Marko Arnautovic at half-time, a move that ultimately proved decisive.

The 37-year-old thought he had restored Austria's lead in the 69th minute when he bundled home from close range. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review detected a handball by defender Stefan Posch during the build-up.

Austria continued to press and finally regained the advantage in the 76th minute. A dangerous corner delivered by Marcel Sabitzer caused confusion inside the Jordan penalty area, with defender Yazan Al-Arab inadvertently turning the ball into his own net under pressure.

Jordan refused to back down and continued searching for another equaliser, but Austria held firm. Deep into stoppage time, Arnautovic sealed the result from the penalty spot after Austria were awarded a late spot-kick, ensuring the scoreline reflected their territorial dominance.

Austria finished with 62 percent possession and registered more attempts on goal, although Jordan created several dangerous moments and managed four shots on target compared to Austria's two.

Speaking after the match, Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents. He said the team had expected a difficult contest and credited Austria's mentality for helping them secure all three points despite periods where their performance dipped.

For Jordan, the result was disappointing but far from discouraging. Making their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup, the Asian side demonstrated resilience, organisation and attacking intent against more experienced opposition.

Goal-scorer Ali Olwan said his side did not deserve to lose and expressed confidence that Jordan could still progress from the group stage. With two matches remaining, Jordan remain hopeful of making further history at the tournament.

The victory gives Austria an important start in Group J and boosts confidence ahead of tougher challenges to come. For Jordan, despite the defeat, the performance offered plenty of encouragement as they continue their maiden World Cup journey.