Spain Ease Past Austria 3-0 To Book World Cup Round of 16 Spot
Sports Updated: 03 July 2026 00:07 EAT
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Spain delivered a clinical display to defeat Austria 3-0 and secure their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, continuing their impressive run in the tournament with a dominant performance in Los Angeles.
The Spaniards controlled possession from the opening whistle and were rewarded in the 36th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted Marc Cucurella's low cross to give Luis de la Fuente's side a deserved first-half lead.
Spain maintained their attacking momentum after the break and doubled their advantage in the 66th minute through Pedro Porro, whose header left the Austrian goalkeeper with no chance after another well-worked move.
Oyarzabal sealed the victory in the 89th minute, completing his brace with a composed finish after being set up once again by Cucurella, who registered two assists in the match.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was among Spain's standout performers, repeatedly stretching the Austrian defence with his pace, dribbling ability and creativity throughout the contest.
Austria attempted to mount a comeback by introducing experienced forwards Marko Arnautović and Saša Kalajdžić in the second half, but they struggled to break down Spain's disciplined defence.
The victory ensured Spain progressed to the Round of 16 without conceding a goal in the knockout match, underlining the balance between their attacking quality and defensive organisation.
Spain will now face the winner of the Round of 32 encounter between Portugal and Croatia as they continue their pursuit of a second FIFA World Cup title.
For Austria, the defeat brought their 2026 World Cup campaign to an end after an encouraging tournament that saw them reach the knockout stage, but they were ultimately outclassed by one of the competition's favourites.
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FELIX MAKONA
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