Spain, the reigning European champions, begin their knockout-stage journey at the 2026 World Cup on Thursday evening when they face Austria in the round of 32 at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. The match, scheduled for 21:00 local time, represents a critical test for Luis de la Fuente's squad, which has not won a single knockout match in a World Cup final phase for 16 years.
Spain advanced to this stage as winners of Group H, having secured two victories against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and a draw against Cape Verde. Austria, coached by Ralf Rangnick, finished second in Group J with one win over Jordan, one draw against Algeria, and a loss to Argentina. The Austrian side is considered a dangerous opponent despite its inconsistent group-stage performance.
The Spanish team has faced criticism for its group-stage displays, which have not matched the high expectations set after winning the European Championship in Germany two years ago. Defender Marc Cucurella acknowledged the external noise, stating: «Criticism is normal. When you play well, they speak well of you, and when you are not at your level, they talk about you. I prefer not to play so well and still advance. The important thing is to keep moving forward.»
Midfielder Álex Baena emphasized that the squad remains focused despite outside pressure. «When you win, everything is fine, and when you lose, criticism comes. We concentrate on ourselves. There will always be noise outside. We have come here to win the World Cup, and we have the team to do it,» he said. Young defender Pau Cubarsí added: «We are very eager for the knockout rounds to arrive. These are very important matches, and we have to be at one hundred percent. A new World Cup begins now.»
The probable starting lineup for Spain includes Unai Simón in goal; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella in defense; Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo in midfield; and Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena, and Mikel Oyarzabal in attack. Austria is expected to field Alexander Schlager; Stefan Posch, Kevin Danso, David Alaba, and Konrad Laimer in defense; Nicolas Seiwald and Xaver Schlager in midfield; and Marcel Sabitzer, Paul Wanner, and Romano Schmid supporting Michael Gregoritsch up front.
The match will be officiated by Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg. If Spain wins, it will face the winner of the round-of-32 match between Croatia and Portugal, which is scheduled to be played later on Thursday night. The Spanish team has not progressed past the knockout stage of a World Cup since 2010, when it won the tournament in South Africa. Since then, it has been eliminated in the group stage in 2014, the round of 16 in 2018, and the round of 16 in 2022.
In Madrid, the Plaza de Colón will host a public viewing event with giant screens, allowing thousands of fans to watch the match together. The Spanish Football Federation has encouraged supporters to gather there to show their support for the team. The atmosphere is expected to be festive, reflecting the high hopes placed on this generation of players.
Spain's path to the final would require winning five more matches if they overcome Austria. The team is aiming for a second World Cup star on its jersey, having won its first in 2010. The current squad includes several players who were part of the Euro 2024 triumph, including Rodri, who was named player of the tournament, and Lamine Yamal, who emerged as a breakout star at age 17.
Kickoff is set for 21:00 local time at the Sofi Stadium, which has a capacity of over 70,000 spectators. The match will be broadcast live on multiple television networks and streaming platforms across Spain and internationally.