Why is Austria called AUT? Explaining country code for 2026 World Cup team

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Austria are appearing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after ending a 28-year absence from football's biggest tournament.

However, as fans follow Austria's campaign, some may be confused to see the country listed as "AUT" on scoreboards, standings and official FIFA graphics rather than simply "AUS."

Here's the background on why Austria's official country code is AUT.

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Why is Austria AUT?

Austria's country abbreviation is AUT because the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) uses a three-letter country code system that assigns AUT to Austria.

As a result, FIFA and many other international sporting organisations use AUT on scoreboards, standings and official tournament graphics. While some soccer fans may expect Austria to be abbreviated as "AUS," that code is more commonly associated with Australia in international sport.

The abbreviation is not unique to football. Austria competes as AUT across a range of international sports, including skiing, athletics and the Olympic Games.

Where is Austria?

Austria is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It shares borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

With a population of around nine million people, Austria is one of Europe's smaller nations. German is the country's official language, while Vienna serves as both the capital and largest city.

Austria are appearing at the World Cup for the eighth time in their history. Their best performance came in 1954, when they finished third, and they will be hoping to enjoy another successful campaign in 2026.

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