SPAIN 3-0 AUSTRIA: Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro sent the European champions into the last 16, where they’ll face either Portugal or Croatia
21:58, 02 Jul 2026Updated 22:22, 02 Jul 2026
Pedro Porro was among Spain’s goalscorers(Image: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Yet to lose. Yet to concede a goal.
Spain produced another dominant performance as they beat Austria 3-0 and secured safe passage to the round of 16. Mikel Oyarzabal bagged his third and fourth goals at this World Cup while Pedro Porro justified his inclusion and scored his first at international level.
In the searing heat of Los Angeles, cool-headed Spain were simply no match for Ralf Rangnick’s Austria. The European champions imposed themselves on the game after the first hydration break, and thought that they’d taken the lead just before the half-hour mark through Marc Cucurella.
But the now former Chelsea left-back’s goal was disallowed for a soft-looking foul on Austria’s goalkeeper, Alexander Schlager. Fortunately for Spain, they were in front on 36 minutes when Cucurella turned provider for Oyarzabal.
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The Real Sociedad forward, who England fans will reluctantly remember scored the winning goal in the final of Euro 2024, is building on a strong season at club level in which he bagged 18 goals and helped the La Liga side win the Copa del Rey. Previously a winger, Oyarzabal has developed into one of international football’s most prolific strikers under Luis de la Fuente.
After was at the double during Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the group stage, the 29-year-old added to his tally in the California sunshine. Schlager was often the source of frustration for De la Fuente’s men before the break, denying Lamine Yamal from close range.
Rangnick had seen enough by half-time and made a double change in a bid to shift the momentum. The ex-Manchester United interim manager soon opted to make two more subs on the hour, including veteran Marko Arnautovic.
Fellow sub Sasa Kalajdzic didn’t take long to fire-off a warning, using his 6ft 7in frame to head the ball over Unai Simon’s crossbar. On top of his clean sheet, Simon broke a 36-year-old record by going 518 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup.
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Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock with his third goal of the tournament(Image: Pablo Garcia/Soccrates/Getty Images)
As the Austrians pushed on, Spain were able to exploit the space in behind. After some patient build-up play, La Roja made their opponents pay when Alex Baena found Porro bursting into the penalty area.
The Tottenham right-back had a simple task to head home, putting the game to bed. Could it be no coincidence that Porro has started both of Spain’s comfortable wins?
Oyarzabal had time to score his second on the counter, courtesy of another Cucurella assist – which made his day a little easier to swallow following his disallowed goal. Spain will play the winners of Friday’s early-morning clash between Portugal and Croatia next Monday.
Regardless of who joins them in Dallas, it should be a mouth-watering round-of-16 tie. For Austria, it’s home time after a decent showing in North America.
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