Spain achieved their first playoff victory since the 2010 World Cup final
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice to take his goal tally to four in the 2026 tournament
Pedro Porro also hits goal, and Spain advances to the 1/8 finals
Unai Simon keeps four clean sheets in a row as Austria rarely threatens
PLAYER EVALUATION
Spain won a knockout match at the men’s World Cup for the first time in 16 years, edging past Austria in Los Angeles to reach the round of 16.
After 36 minutes of gradually building pressure, Spain finally took the lead when Mikel Oyarzabal saved Mark Cucurella’s low cross from 12 yards.
They deservedly doubled their lead in the 66th minute when a build-up of patience ended with right-back Pedro Porro bursting into the box to head home Alex Baena.
And the crushing victory was sealed when Cucurella and Oyarzabal combined again with a minute left. Real Madrid’s new left-back played a perfect pass and the striker scored his fourth goal of the tournament.
Frustrated by the first half hour of the last 32 match, Spain thought they were in the lead when Cucurella fired home from a half-cleared corner – but it was denied as Pau Kubarsi was severely punished for a foul on Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
Schlager’s heroics kept Spain out of sight at the break, denying Oyarzabal with a fine save to his left just before the European champions took the lead.
He then made a brilliant double save to steer Baena’s free-kick onto the crossbar before blocking Lamine Yamal’s ferocious shot with his chest.
However, Spain continued to dominate after the restart, running out comfortable winners.
Austria, playing their first World Cup knockout game since 1954, came close when substitute Sasa Kalajdzic headed home with his first touch.
But they rarely threatened further, meaning Spain joined Mexico in not conceding a goal in their first four matches of the 2026 World Cup.