Austrian Football Teams: Complete Guide to Bundesliga, 2. Liga, and Frauen Bundesliga Teams (2025)

While Austria, as a country, has been slowly making their strides in national football tournaments, the passion in the Austrian football teams runs just as deep as we have seen in the elite leagues in Europe. If we take a look at the talent pool of the last five years in football, we can see that there are a lot of Austrian footballers who have made their mark at the highest stages. From the iconic clubs of the Austrian Bundesliga to the up-and-coming talents from the lower divisions, such as 2. Liga or OFB Frauen Bundesliga, in addition to the country’s scenic beauty and rich music, Austria boasts an evolving footballing culture that promises the world of football a lot of talented players.

Be it the historic SK Rapid Wien, which have given the world some of the biggest footballing stars, or the modern-day contributions of RB Salzburg, where player development has been a staple throughout the Austrian football league system, there are many big names in the form of Austrian football teams. 

Other than the talented players and top-flight fights every year, the Austrian football is famous due to how smooth the Austria football league system is. Be it if you are a regular follower of Austrian football leagues or you are a newcomer, this comprehensive guide to Austrian Football teams across various leagues and the league system is for you.

Austrian Football Clubs: History and Evolution of Football Teams in Austria

Just like the top five leagues in Europe, football teams in Austria also share a rich footballing heritage. The early years of football in Austria came around the late 19th century. The very first game documented in the country was back in 1894. By the early 1900s, football has already made its mark in the country, especially in Vienna, where the sport started to grow massively. If we turn the history pages of Austrian Football Teams, it was clubs like SK Rapid Wien and Vienna FC who built the pillars of Austrian football.

Given the momentum of club football in the nation, the 1930s were the golden era of the Austrian national team, as football back then already had adapted a fluid approach. While the growth and development of the sport was stopped for a moment due to the war, the clubs in the country started to rebuild their approach and development of football after that.

Speaking of development, it was back in 1974 when the Austrian Bundesliga was officially formed, replacing the old format and approach of the top competition. Following this massive move, it has been an upward trajectory of how football in Austria has evolved throughout the years. One of the highlights of Austrian football teams is that almost all the clubs put a strong focus on youth development and scouting. Teams such as Austria Wien and RB Salzburg have become renowned names globally for their expanding influence.

Austria Football League System

In order to ensure there is competitive balance and the clubs can see success through merit, the best measures were considered for the Austria football league system. The top tier of the Austria football landscape is the Austrian Bundesliga. It comprises a total of 12 teams. Every year, the league works in a split-league format post-regular season. While the Champions qualify for the UEFA Competitions, the bottom teams in the table get relegated to 2. Liga.

Which brings us to the second Tier of competition, which is known as the 2. Liga. Here, the league has a total of 16 teams competing for the top spot. The competition works as a traditional league with promotion to the Bundesliga and relegation to the regional leagues. The third tier is the Regionalliga. It is divided into East, West, and Central, which work as feeders to the 2. Liga. Here, a club would need to meet both the sporting and licensing requirements to be promoted.

Austrian Football Pyramid

Now that you are aware of the Austrian football teams and the Austrian football league system, let us take a look at how the Austrian football pyramid works. The Austrian football pyramid basically represents the hierarchical structure of leagues in the country. At the very top, we have the Austrian Bundesliga, which is considered Tier 1. Up next, we have 2. Liga, where the promotion and relegation to the Bundesliga and the Regionalliga, respectively, happen. 

Following that, we have the Regionalliga, which is divided into Central, East, and West divisions. Lastly, we have Landesliga and others, which are rather known as Grassroots football. This is pretty much the Austrian Football Pyramid, which comprises Austrian football teams across various divisions.

Most Successful Austrian Football Teams

While the progress of football in Austria has been halted various times, the systematic approach and the passion for football throughout the country have remained. From the grassroots level to the top-flight competition in the Austrian Bundesliga, over the years, there have been some of the big clubs that have ensured consistency in domestic football and made quite a name for themselves in Europe for not only for their footballing performances but the development of young talents. Here are the most successful Austrian football teams:

Austrian Bundesliga Teams

The Austrian Bundesliga teams are considered the elite, given that the top league in the country is the Austrian Bundesliga. Back in 1974, the league was established. The competition features a total of 12 teams that compete for the championship and qualification to European tournaments.

2. Liga Teams

After the top-tier competition, there is a second division known as the 2. Liga. Here the 2. Liga teams fight for promotion, while the bottom of the table gets relegated. This league is also known as Admiral 2. Liga for sponsorship reasons. Let us take a look at the 2. Liga Teams:

ÖFB Frauen Bundesliga Teams

Now that you are aware of the Austrian football teams that play for the top two divisions, let's have a look at the Frauen Bundesliga Teams. Every year, there are ten teams that participate in the competition: