Spain vs Austria | FIFA World Cup 2026 — Round of 32 | Preview and Prediction

With the Round of 32 games serving up one classic game after another at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one hopes the trend continues as Spain lock horns with Austria here in what should be a fascinating clash between two sides who like playing their football on the front foot.

For the game, here we present our preview and prediction.

FIFA WC26 | Ro32: ESP vs AUT | 00:30 IST, 3 July 2026

Spain have had a rather confusing campaign thus far. While the 4–0 win against Saudi Arabia showed how they remain a force to be reckoned with when they are on song, the games against Cabo Verde and Uruguay painted an altogether different story.

Against Cabo Verde, they failed to open up the low block and seemingly lacked the urgency and tempo to make things happen, which gave plenty of time to the opposition defenders to get back into shape. There was also a noticeable sense of passivity when Spain had the ball, with their tendency to rely a bit too much on sideways passing once again doing little to create any worthwhile opportunities.

Against Uruguay as well, it was Marcelo Bielsa’s men who took the attacking initiative rather than the other way round. Yet, somehow, the 2024 Euro champions found a way to prevail and top the group.

Part of that has to do with the lack of minutes for star winger Lamine Yamal, who is still finding his way back to both fitness and form since returning from a hamstring injury. While he has shown flashes of his quality in the little time that he has spent on the pitch, Spain will need more from him if they are to make a deep run in this World Cup.

Austria, meanwhile, have qualified for the knockout stage for the first time since 1954 and will be looking to cause one of the biggest upsets in the tournament so far here to show how far they have come as a footballing nation.

Ralf Rangnick’s men were on the verge of elimination against Algeria when they conceded a goal deep into stoppage time to go 3–2 down, but then they equalised with what was virtually the last kick of the game to ensure that they qualified at the end of one of the most chaotic fixtures of this World Cup.

Austria have no injury problems to deal with, while Spain will be without Nico Williams, who is out with a groin injury, and Yéremy Pino, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fractured collarbone.

We believe that Spain will start as favourites to win this Round of 32 match-up despite their injury issues and reach the last 16, where they will face either Portugal or Croatia.

Score Prediction: Spain 3–1 Austria
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, USA