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Pre-tournament favourites Spain will be aiming to progress with relative ease when they face Austria in the round of 32 of World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
The European champions topped their group with seven points to set up an all-European clash with Das Team.
Meanwhile, Austria's last-gasp 3-3 draw with Algeria in their final group game was enough to see them finish second in their group, and set up the tie with La Roja.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions, as well as which platforms offer the best world cup welcome bonuses.
Spain vs. Austria key stats
- Spain are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions (W9, D4).
- Austria have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 World Cup matches.
- Spain have never lost three successive World Cup knockout fixtures.
Spain vs. Austria preview: La Roja to rise to the occasion?
| Spain | vs | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FIFA Ranking | 24 |
| Rodri (65) | Most Caps | Marko Arnautovic (136) |
| Mikel Oyarzabal (27) | Most Goals | Marko Arnautovic (49) |
| 790 | Total Caps | 1052 |
| 121 | Total Goals | 154 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 0 |
Spain are bidding to become world champions for just the second time, after last doing so in 2010.
That golden generation also won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, and is arguably one of the greatest national sides ever assembled.
This current crop perhaps do not boast as much quality, but there is certainly a togetherness under Luis de la Fuente that makes them extremely hard to beat, evident by them not conceding a single goal in the group stage of this World Cup.
Spain are certainly favourites to progress to the round of 16, but they may have to do so without Yeremy Pino, who is unlikely to feature again this tournament after suffering an injury in La Roja's 1-0 win over Uruguay last time out, while Nico Williams is also a fitness doubt.
Austria appear to have no fresh concerns of their own in their squad, so Ralf Rangnick's side will be expected to go full strength.
They did well to collect four points and finish second in a group containing world champions Argentina, but would have hoped for an easier tie on paper than Spain.
Still, Das Team will give it a go and possess quality in the squad with the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer that can hurt La Roja.
It has been over 70 years since Austria made it this far in a World Cup though, and perhaps this is a bridge too far for them.
Spain vs. Austria form guide & betting tips
| Spain | vs | Austria |
|---|---|---|
DWDWW |
Form | WWWLD |
| 9 | Goals For | 8 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 6 |
DWW |
World Cup 2026 | WLD |
Whispers predicts: Spain 2-0 Austria
Spain are 1/3 (1.33) favourites to win in normal time and 1/7 (1.14) favourites to progress, but while we agree with the bookies, these odds are too short for us to back.
Instead, BTTS – No at 4/6 (1.67) is our first pick, with La Roja not conceding a goal at the World Cup so far.
They could be slightly nervous though having lost their previous two World Cup knockout fixtures, so Under 2.5 goals at 21/20 (2.05) may be worth picking up.
Austria lost 2-0 to Argentina in the group stage, and with Spain at a similar level based on FIFA rankings, we are backing Correct score – 2-0 at 11/2 (6.50).
> BTTS – No at 4/6 (1.67) | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 21/20 (2.05) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – 2-0 at 11/2 (6.50) | Likelihood: Outsider