Dejan Ljubičić added to Austria’s squad on eve of World Cup

Dejan Ljubičić is heading to the World Cup. The FC Schalke 04 midfielder has been called up to Austria’s just as the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA is set to kick off. Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick added the right-footed midfielder to his squad on Wednesday night after a place became available following an injury to Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner.

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Dejan Ljubičić wearing a Schalke hoodie sitting in the stands at the VELTINS-Arena smiling at the camera

The 28-year-old is the third member of Schalke’s promotion-winning squad to be involved in the biggest tournament in world football, alongside the Bosnian duo Edin Džeko and Nikola Katic.

Ljubičić joined the Royal Blues from Dinamo Zagreb in January 2026 and went on to register seven goal involvements in 15 second-division appearances for S04 in the second half of the season, scoring four goals and setting up three more. He has won nine senior caps for Austria so far, scoring once.

Austria begin their tournament next Wednesday (17/6), when the side coached by former Schalke head coach Ralf Rangnick face Jordan. Their other two fixtures in Group J are against reigning world champions Argentina on Monday (22/6) and Algeria on Sunday (28/6).

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