Oyarzabal double and Porro header send European champions through to the World Cup last 16
By Norman Mwale
Spain advanced to the World Cup 2026 last 16 after a comfortable 3-0 win over Austria in a round of 32 tie at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, yesterday, watched by a pro-Spanish crowd of more than 70,000. The result was Spain’s first World Cup knockout win since they lifted the trophy in 2010, ending a run of early exits at the last-16 stage in the two tournaments since.
Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the contest for long spells. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, Pedro Porro added a second-half header, and Marc Cucurella supplied two assists from left-back in a display that underlined Spain’s balance between patience and penetration.
The opening period was tight until VAR intervened. Spain thought they had taken the lead in the 28th minute when Cucurella turned the ball in at the back post, but the goal was ruled out after officials judged that Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had been impeded during the build-up to a corner. The setback did not disrupt Spain’s rhythm. In the 36th minute Oyarzabal opened the scoring, turning home a low pass from Cucurella after Spain had worked the ball across Austria’s penalty area. La Roja carried a 1-0 lead into the break, having dominated possession without adding to their tally despite chances for Alex Baena and Lamine Yamal.
Ralf Rangnick’s Austria struggled to impose themselves after the restart, unable to find space between Spain’s midfield and back line. Spain doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Baena floated a cross to the edge of the six-yard box and Porro arrived to head home from close range.
Oyarzabal completed his double late on to make it 3-0, turning in a second assist from Cucurella with the game already put beyond Austria’s reach. It was his third and fourth goals of the tournament, and Spain’s win stretched their unbeaten run in competitive internationals to 34 matches.
Unai Simon was rarely troubled in goal, while Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi dealt comfortably with Austria’s occasional forays forward. Substitute Sasa Kalajdzic, who had scored a stoppage-time winner against Algeria earlier in the tournament, was introduced late by Rangnick in search of a route back into the game, but Austria could not fashion a clear opening.
For Austria, the result ends a campaign that had promised more after a mixed group stage in which they took one win, one draw and one loss but scored freely along the way. Rangnick’s side lacked a cutting edge against a Spain team that rotated possession well and attacked with width throughout. The defeat marks Austria’s first World Cup knockout appearance in 72 years, since 1954, when a run of good form in the group stage again failed to translate into a deep knockout run.
Spain, by contrast, arrive at this stage of the tournament having conceded no goals in four matches, despite a stuttering group phase that included a draw with Cabo Verde and a narrow win over Uruguay. De la Fuente has been credited with a patient, possession-based approach built around Rodri and Pedri in midfield, with teenage forward Lamine Yamal offering a direct outlet on the counter.
“We knew it would be an important match, especially at this stage of the competition,” said de la Fuente. “We had our previous games in mind and, in every aspect, we were almost perfect. There are still small things to improve, and every match from here will be harder than the last.”
Oyarzabal, named man of the match, said he was simply relieved to have helped Spain through. “I’m happy to have helped the team get through to the next round,” he said. “They were a physical side and difficult to play against, but we played a good match. It doesn’t matter who we face next — I have friends in both teams,” he added, referring to Spain’s coming last-16 opponent, the winner of Portugal against Croatia.
Spain progress to the round of 16 unbeaten and without conceding a goal at the tournament so far, while Austria depart California after a 3-0 defeat that closes their World Cup 2026 campaign.
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