No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Mikel Oyarzabal2 - 2
Marko Arnautovic2 - 3Sasa Kalajdzic1
- 4Álex Baena1
- 5Marcel Sabitzer1
- 6Lamine Yamal1
- 7Romano Schmid1
- 1Mikel Oyarzabal11
- 2Lamine Yamal8
- 3Ferran Torres7
- 4Marcel Sabitzer5
- 5Fabián Ruiz5
- 6Sasa Kalajdzic3
- 7Pedri3
- 8Dani Olmo3
- 9Álex Baena3
- 10Marc Cucurella3
- 1Rodri7
- 2Nicolas Seiwald5
- 3Marcos Llorente5
- 4Konrad Laimer3
- 5Xaver Schlager3
- 6Pedri3
- 7Pedro Porro3
- 8Romano Schmid3
- 9Lamine Yamal2
- 10Mikel Oyarzabal2
- 1Konrad Laimer1
- 2Xaver Schlager1
- 3Dani Olmo1
- 4David Alaba1
- 5Michael Gregoritsch1
- 6Aymeric Laporte1
- 7Marcos Llorente1
- 8Mikel Oyarzabal1
- 1Pedri6
- 2Marcos Llorente4
- 3Rodri4
- 4Álex Baena3
- 5Pedro Porro3
- 6Aymeric Laporte3
- 7Marcel Sabitzer3
- 8Lamine Yamal3
- 9Mikel Merino3
- 10Pau Cubarsí3
- 1Rodri328
- 2Pau Cubarsí289
- 3Aymeric Laporte281
- 4Pedri187
- 5Marc Cucurella151
- 6David Alaba148
- 7Philipp Lienhart127
- 8Nicolas Seiwald125
- 9Marcos Llorente123
- 10Xaver Schlager122
- 1Lamine Yamal9
- 2Pedri4
- 3Ferran Torres3
- 4Romano Schmid3
- 5Konrad Laimer2
- 6Paul Wanner2
- 7Kevin Danso2
- 8Dani Olmo2
- 9Marc Cucurella2
- 10Marcel Sabitzer2
- 1Stefan Posch7
- 2Pedri7
- 3Aymeric Laporte7
- 4Marcel Sabitzer6
- 5Xaver Schlager5
- 6Nicolas Seiwald4
- 7David Alaba3
- 8Phillipp Mwene3
- 9Mikel Merino3
- 10Pau Cubarsí3
Spain look to extend their unbeaten campaign when they face Austria in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm (UK time) on Thursday 2nd July at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles.
Luis de la Fuente’s reigning European champions have avoided defeat in all three group games and kept three straight clean sheets, recovering from a shock 0-0 draw against Cape Verde on matchday one to beat Saudi Arabia and Uruguay with ease. Austria returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, finishing runners-up in Group J after beating Jordan 3-1, losing to Argentina 0-2, and drawing 3-3 with Algeria in a dramatic final group game. One side controls matches; the other tends to live in them.
Spain vs Austria predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal to score or assist | 8/15 @ bet365 (65.2%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yamal has been the best young player in the tournament and arguably the most dangerous winger on either side of the bracket. Austria’s defensive fragility was evident in their 3-3 draw with Algeria, esports-news a game that produced six goals and exposed real vulnerability at the back. Yamal’s directness, dribbling and end product make him the most likely Spaniard to influence the breakthrough in Los Angeles. |
| Spain to win and over 2.5 goals | 11/10 @ Sky Bet (47.6%) | ⭐⭐ | Spain scored four goals against Saudi Arabia in the group stage, while Austria have already been involved in a 3-3 draw with Algeria and conceded twice to Argentina. Austria’s six goals against tougher Group J opposition mean they are not a side Spain can simply sit back against. Spain’s attacking quality combined with Austria’s tendency to leak goals makes a high-scoring Spanish win the most logical outcome. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Spain vs Austria
Spain
Spain swept Group H with seven points, scoring five goals and conceding none across three matches. De la Fuente’s side responded to a frustrating opening draw with Cape Verde by delivering two assured, controlled victories that underlined exactly why they remain among the tournament favourites. The back line has yet to concede a goal – a remarkably convincing defensive run in a 48-team World Cup.
Spain have won 16 of their 26 World Cup appearances and lifted the trophy in 2010, but Round of 16 exits in 2018 and 2022 have left this squad with a point to prove. Yamal leads the attacking threat, with Mikel Oyarzabal Spain’s top scorer with two goals and Alex Baena also among the scorers. Los Angeles boasts a significant Spanish-speaking soccer audience, meaning the crowd at SoFi Stadium will skew heavily towards Spain – a factor that could prove significant in a tense knockout atmosphere.
Austria
Austria return to the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in a generation, having been absent from five consecutive tournaments before finally qualifying for 2026. Ralf Rangnick’s side reached the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, and his aggressive gegenpressing philosophy has been hugely influential throughout European football. That tactical identity gives Austria genuine belief heading into Los Angeles, even against vastly superior opposition on paper.
The 3-3 draw with Algeria that confirmed their progression produced six goals and underlined both Austria’s attacking intent and their defensive fragility. David Alaba captains the side from defence, while Marcel Sabitzer provides creativity in midfield after winning his 100th international cap during the group stage. Austria have nothing to lose against one of the game’s elite sides – and that freedom could make them a dangerous, unpredictable opponent.
Spain team news
There are concerns around the fitness of star winger Lamine Yamal, though Luis de la Fuente has plenty of options at his disposal as he looks to navigate the knockout stages. Yamal’s involvement is the most significant team news question facing Spain ahead of Thursday’s fixture.
De la Fuente has kept a settled defensive unit throughout the group stage, with that back four yet to concede a single goal. Oyarzabal leads the attacking line as Spain’s top scorer, with Baena offering further creative quality from midfield.
Austria team news
David Alaba captains Austria’s 26-man World Cup squad and operates as the defensive anchor of Rangnick’s side. Marcel Sabitzer delivers creativity in midfield and remains Austria’s most important creative outlet heading into the knockout rounds.
Marko Arnautovic leads the attacking line and carries Austria’s primary goal threat against a Spain defence that has not been breached at this tournament.
Head-to-Head
This will be the 10th meeting between these two nations, with Spain winning six and Austria taking the victory on two occasions. This will be their first meeting at a World Cup since 1978, which was their first ever encounter and was one of Austria’s only two wins against Spain.
Which side will continue their World Cup adventure?
Spain are prohibitive favourites, with their form, squad depth and Austria’s defensive vulnerability all pointing one way. Austria carry nothing to lose and the attacking quality to trouble any side in this tournament, as their six goals in Group J demonstrate. Thursday in Los Angeles offers Rangnick’s side the chance to write another chapter in their remarkable return to the World Cup stage.
We’re backing Lamine Yamal to influence the outcome in Los Angeles. 8/15 with bet365 for Yamal to score or assist reflects his outstanding tournament form and Austria’s defensive fragility against quality wide players.
For a combined play, Spain to win and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Sky Bet reflects Spain’s attacking depth, Austria’s tendency to concede and the expectation of a high-scoring, one-sided knockout tie.
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