From Kuchl to Messi: RB Leipzig and Austria star Nicolas Seiwald reflects on World Cup journey | OneFootball

On November 18, 2025, Austria qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 as Michael Gregoritsch's equaliser earned Ralf Rangnick's side a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina and secured top spot in Group H.

RB Leipzig midfielder Nicolas Seiwald played the full game that night at Ernst-Happel-Stadion and still gets goosebumps when he thinks back to the celebrations.

“It was an amazing feeling," Seiwald said in an interview with RB Leipzig club media.

“At first, I didn't really have the words. It was almost indescribable. Even now, a few months later, I still get goosebumps talking about it,” he added. 

"The real release came with the final whistle, and that's when all the emotions really came out. The whole team ran on, the lads on the bench too. It was just overwhelming."

Photo: RB Leipzig

From Kuchl to Messi

Born in the small Austrian market town of Kuchl, Seiwald is now preparing to represent his country on football's biggest stage.

Austria play their first game in the World Cup's Group J against Jordan on June 17 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, before taking on world champions Argentina and Algeria.

For Seiwald, that could mean sharing the pitch with Argentine icon Lionel Messi – a prospect the 25-year-old still finds hard to comprehend.

“It's hard to get your head around it when you think about it: from Kuchl out into the world, to a World Cup against Messi. I don't think it gets any bigger than that," Seiwald said. 

"A few years ago, my brother and I joked about it, and now we're actually going to the World Cup. It's indescribable. It's a really cool feeling. It makes me proud that I get to represent Austria there as part of the national team. And we'll try to make our fans proud and happy there too.”

Asked about the factors behind his rise to this level, the 25-year-old defensive midfielder replied:

“I think my consistency, the steady path I've been on, always believing in it, keeping on working hard, sticking at it and staying disciplined, and of course my family, my friends, the people around me, who have had my back and helped me so much to do what I love."

According to Seiwald, Austria have not set a specific target for how far they want to progress at the World Cup, with their main objective being to make the nation's fans proud.

“My personal aim is simply to perform well and help the team as much as I can. We're not setting ourselves a specific target as a team. We just want to represent Austria well, play good football, play modern football, make our fans proud, and I think that's the biggest aim," Seiwald concluded.