Spain 3-0 Austria: Oyarzabal brace sends champs through in style
Spain beat Austria 3-0 at SoFi Stadium on July 2, 2026, as Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Pedro Porro headed a third to send the European champions into the World Cup round of 16. Gregor Kobel was not Austria's keeper—Alexander Schlager was—and Spain dominated with 65 percent possession and 23 shots per FOX Sports.
Key Takeaways
- Mikel Oyarzabal's brace and Pedro Porro's first international goal sealed a 3-0 win that FOX Sports said flatters Austria.
- Spain posted 65 percent possession, 23 shots and 10 on target while Austria managed five shots with none on target.
- La Roja extended an unbeaten run to 34 games and recorded a fourth straight World Cup clean sheet.
- Marc Cucurella assisted both Oyarzabal goals; his own strike was ruled out after a first-half foul on Schlager.
- Spain will face Portugal or Croatia in the round of 16 after their first World Cup knockout win since 2010.
What turned Spain's attack loose against Austria?
After a flat group stage that included a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente's side looked like a different team in Los Angeles. FOX Sports described the performance as the Spain everyone feared in pre-tournament projections: dominant possession, crisp passing and relentless pressure.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a first-time finish from Cucurella's low cross, added a late second from another Cucurella assist, and Porro arrived unmarked to head home Álex Baena's cross for Spain's second. ESPN noted it was Spain's first World Cup knockout victory since lifting the trophy in 2010.
Why do Spain's fullbacks matter in knockout football?
FOX Sports called Spain's fullbacks the cheat code. While Austria doubled up on Lamine Yamal, width came from behind in the shape of Cucurella and Porro. Cucurella thought he had scored when a loose-ball finish was chalked off for a foul on Schlager, yet Spain never lost composure.
That tactical wrinkle—wingers pinned wide while fullbacks attack the back post—fits how modern sides use data and role flexibility. For more on how performance tech is reshaping sport, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage.
What happens next for Spain at the World Cup?
Spain advance to face either Portugal or Croatia in the round of 16, with ESPN reporting a Monday meeting in Arlington, Texas. Oyarzabal told reporters he was happy to help the team through another round and called Austria a very physical opponent Spain handled well.
Yahoo Sports' live thread from Inglewood listed Alexander Schlager in Austria's goal and tracked Spain's growing control as the match wore on. Read FOX Sports' full round-of-32 takeaways for the complete picture.
Where does Austria go from here?
There is no shame in bowing out to this Spain side, FOX Sports argued, though cameras caught David Alaba and Florian Grillitsch arguing as the match slipped away. Austria's best chance came when Saša Kalajdžić headed Marcel Sabitzer's delivery inches wide in the 61st minute.
For Austria, a first World Cup knockout appearance since 1954 ended against a Spain team peaking at the right time—with Oyarzabal building a Golden Boot case and a defense that still has not conceded at this tournament.