Spain reached the World Cup last 16 with a controlled 3-0 victory over Austria, as Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Pedro Porro added another, while Luis de la Fuente praised an almost flawless team display yet stressed that improvement remained essential for deeper progress in the tournament.
The European champions, tipped before the competition as favourites for the trophy, advanced from the round of 32 and will now meet either Portugal or Croatia in the next phase, after delivering their most convincing World Cup knockout performance since lifting the title in 2010.
La Roja ended a long wait for a World Cup knockout win, having last succeeded in such a match during the 2010 final against the Netherlands, and scored more than once in a knockout tie for the first time since a 3-0 victory over Switzerland in 1994.
De la Fuente extended a strong personal record in elimination games, as Spain’s head coach remained unbeaten in knockout matches at major tournaments with the national team, moving to W10 D1, and described how the squad had responded when the pressure of do-or-die football increased.
The big teams turn up when their presence is needed, De la Fuente told RTVE. I think we’ve seen a great game. I’m happy because, in all aspects, we’ve been almost perfectbut we have to keep improving. Every match now is going to be very difficult. In the last 16, the opponents are now even more demanding. You can always improve, and on top of that, it’s what this team demands. These players always want more and more. [Oyarzabal] showed the footballing potential he hasand the rest of his team-mates exactly the same. They played an extraordinary match.
Austria created very little against Spain’s organised defence, failing to produce a single shot on target and becoming the first side to do so in a World Cup knockout match since Argentina against Germany in the 2014 final, while also registering only five efforts worth 0.3 expected goals and 11 touches in Spain’s penalty area.
For the first 20 to 25 minutes, we were OK, but after the first [hydration] break, I think they changed a bit, and then it became more difficult for us, David Alaba said. They are very strong with the ball. They have a lot of the ball, and after 90 minutes, it’s difficult to run after the ball. They have players who have a lot of quality and are very dangerous.
Spain World Cup stars and Oyarzabal’s scoring milestone
Oyarzabal continued a prolific run with the national team, taking the tally to 16 goals for Spain since the start of 2025 and becoming the first Spain player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno hit four against Denmark in the 1986 last 16.
I’m happy to help the team and get through to the next round, he said. Now we need to rest. They were a physical side and difficult to play against, but we played a good match. We’re happy to qualify. It doesn’t matter who we face in the next round [Portugal or Croatia]I have friends in both teams, so bring them on.
Spain World Cup numbers and historical context
Across the 2026 tournament, Spain had already collected three wins and one draw, matching in a single edition the total number of victories achieved across the previous three World Cups combined, with one win recorded in each of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
| Team | Goals | Shots | Shots on target | Expected goals (xG) | Touches in opposition box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Austria | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.3 | 11 |
Spain’s display against Austria confirmed control in and out of possession, with clinical finishing from Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, and while De la Fuente highlighted that tougher tests awaited against either Portugal or Croatia, the current form and historical numbers indicated a confident Spain World Cup challenge.
Story first published: Friday, July 3, 2026, 4:44 [IST]
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