Spain aim for the World Cup last 16 tonight against Austria, with the winner advancing to face either Portugal or Croatia in Dallas, Texas. The Round of 32 fixture at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California pits the European champions against an Austrian side making its first knockout appearance since 1954, having squeezed through Group J as runners-up after a dramatic late equaliser against Algeria.
Austria will be the first team to test a Spanish defence that has not conceded a single goal in the tournament, a record shared only with Mexico. Spain topped Group H with seven points from three matches, remaining unbeaten despite a shock 0–0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening game. That stalemate, in which Lamine Yamal was not in the starting lineup and Gavi struggled in an unfamiliar left-sided attacking role, left Spain needing to win their remaining two fixtures to guarantee progress.
They responded emphatically. On matchday two in Atlanta, Georgia, Spain routed Saudi Arabia 4–0. Lamine Yamal, carefully managed by coach Luis de la Fuente after a previous hamstring injury, scored the opener on his first World Cup start. Mikel Oyarzabal added a brace and an assist, continuing the form that saw him score the decisive goal in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph. The victory set up a decisive final group match against Uruguay, managed by former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Spain sealed top spot with a 1–0 win in Guadalajara, Mexico, courtesy of a strike from Álex Baena, an Atlético Madrid midfielder making his senior World Cup debut. Baena has become an increasingly influential figure, with his former coaches describing him as a difference-maker who “sees the game differently” and is “ahead of the curve”. He is expected to retain his starting position against Austria. The win eliminated Uruguay, marking their second consecutive group-stage exit.
De la Fuente has managed his squad cautiously throughout the group stage, respecting recovery timelines. Yamal, now considered fully fit and ready to play a full match, has expressed confidence that Spain can win the World Cup, stating he does not believe France is superior to his team. At 17, he became the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Euro history and now has 25 senior caps for Spain, showcasing quality, creativity and decisiveness.
Oyarzabal, making his World Cup debut at age 29 after missing the 2022 tournament with a knee injury, is described as Spain’s “silent assassin” and a key leader on the pitch. With 24 goals in 52 appearances, he ranks among Spain’s top ten all-time goalscorers. He was involved in three goals in the Saudi Arabia win – two goals and an assist. Álex Baena, with 18 senior caps, has been praised by de la Fuente for his unique playing style.
Spain will be without Nico Williams, who has picked up another fitness issue that may rule him out against Austria. Víctor Muñoz, the new Liverpool signing, has recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of the first three matches and could be in contention for minutes. Dani Olmo and Pedro Porro have been brought into the starting lineup for the Austria match, replacing Mikel Merino and Marcos Llorente.
Austria arrive with a potent weapon in Marko Arnautovic, the 37-year-old who holds his nation’s records for both caps (136) and goals (49). He has scored twice in the group stage but may be used from the bench against Spain. Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has made several changes to his side, with Kevin Danso, Paul Wanner and Michael Gregoritsch coming into the starting XI. Philipp Lienhart, Philipp Mwene, Konrad Laimer and the recalled Wanner and Gregoritsch all feature in the reshaped lineup.
Spain holds an impressive historical record against Austria, unbeaten in their last five meetings (four wins, one draw), with their two most recent victories coming by four-goal margins. However, Spain lost their only previous World Cup encounter against Austria, which took place in 1978. The expanded 48-team tournament means this is the first World Cup to begin the knockout stage with a Round of 32, a format that has given Austria their first chance at a knockout win in 70 years.
The match at SoFi Stadium is one of eight that Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium – known for its retractable roof and sustainability initiatives – is also designated to host, including a semi-final. An official fan zone will operate at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. In Guadalajara, where Spain played Uruguay, the Estadio Akron – known for its unique spherical design – operated on a cashless basis, accepting only card or contactless payments, with fans advised to arrive early for security and ticket scanning.
