Spain 3-0 Austria: Oyarzabal 36, 89; Porro 66
Austra might not be the toughest of opponents but this was an example of what Spain can be when in full flow. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Pedro Porro got his first international goal as one of the tournament favourites finally began to look the part.
Spain have not conceded in any of their four World Cup games played so far and are now in the last 16, where they will face either Portugal or Croatia. They have scored seven goals in that time, and in this form, they can easily match any other side still in the competition.
The European champions controlled proceedings for long spells at SoFi Stadium, with the effervescent Lamine Yamal at the heart of almost every dangerous attack and Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager preventing the margin from becoming even more emphatic.
Spain wasted little time testing Austria. Within the opening minute Yamal drove infield and fired low towards the bottom right corner, but it was weak enough for Schlager to make easy work of it. Yet it set the tone for a lively contest as Spain continued to apply pressure and Austria braved the heat.
Ralf Rangnick’s side almost caught Spain out midway through the first half when Marcel Sabitzer curled an inviting cross towards Michael Gregoritsch, but the striker could not direct his header on target. Spain then thought they had gone ahead after half an hour, when a corner dropped in front of Marc Cucurella and he rifled home.
But his teammates had pressed much too closely to Schlager and Fifa does not take goalkeeper safety with the same levity that the Premier League does. The referee ruled that he had been fouled and play continued on parity.
We know it.
Everybody knows it.
HE’S THAT GOOD. 🇪🇸#VamosEspaña | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zFMueERJbx— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 2, 2026
However, it did not take too long for the breakthrough to arrive. Pedri soon found Cucurella, who produced a low delivery that was met first time by Oyarzabal to send Spain ahead. Austria survived another scare before the interval when Alex Baena’s curling free-kick cannoned off the crossbar after Schlager’s touch, and the goalkeeper reacted brilliantly again to deny Yamal from the rebound.
Rangnick was frustrated and reshuffled his midfield after the break in search of a response. But despite Florian Grillitsch and Carney Chukwuemeka coming on, Spain kept a vice-like grip on proceedings. Oyarzabal headed over from a corner before Rodri saw a low effort deflected narrowly wide, while Austria’s best opportunity only came when substitute Sasa Kalajdzic rose to meet a precise Sabitzer delivery but nodded over the crossbar.
Spain removed any lingering doubt with 24 minutes remaining after Baena’s cross was met by the late run of Porro, who headed beyond Schlager for his first goal in Spain colours.
Austria attempted to mount a late response, with Stefan Posch heading wide, but Spain would not bulge and soon Oyarzabal made a perfect run onto Cucurella’s low cross. Left in acres of space, the forward could not miss.
