On Thursday, Spain takes on Austria in a crucial match aimed at securing a spot in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The winner could face a high-stakes quarter-final against either Portugal or Croatia.
La Roja comes into this match as a frontrunner, having topped Group H with a perfect record of three victories, clinching first place with a narrow 1-0 win over Uruguay, thanks to a goal from Alex Baena. Under coach Luis de la Fuente, the team has demonstrated exceptional defensive prowess, maintaining clean sheets in all of their World Cup matches thus far and not conceding a single first-half shot on target during the tournament.
Austria reached the knockout stage after a thrilling group stage, highlighted by a remarkable last-minute equalizer from Sasa Kalajdzic, which secured a 3-3 draw against Algeria. This dramatic finish earned Das Team second place in Group J on goal difference, marking a historic achievement as the first team in World Cup history to avoid defeat after trailing in stoppage time of the second half.
Team News
Spain’s defensive strength comes at a critical stage, as De la Fuente faces challenges due to injuries affecting attackers Yeremy Pino (shoulder), Nico Williams (adductor), and Victor Munoz (thigh), all of whom may miss the upcoming match.
For Austria, key players Marko Arnautovic and David Alaba were both feeling the effects of the intense match against Algeria, although their injuries appear to be minor, primarily affecting their knees.
Possible Lineups
Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Merino, Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Baena
Austria possible starting lineup:
A. Schlager; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; Siewald, X. Schlager; Laimer, Schmid, Sabitzer; Arnautovic
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match predictions
Softfootball predicts Spain 2-1 Austria
