Spain underlined their status as one of the favorites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Austria in their Round of 32 encounter at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday.
Mikel Oyarzabal continued his impressive scoring form by netting twice, while Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro celebrated his maiden international goal as the reigning European champions comfortably booked their place in the Round of 16.
Spain made an energetic start and quickly took control of the contest, with Lamine Yamal proving a constant threat to the Austrian defence. The teenage winger thought he had earned a penalty in the 11th minute following a challenge from Konrad Laimer inside the box, but the referee dismissed the appeals and allowed play to continue.
The Spaniards continued to pile on the pressure and thought they had broken the deadlock in the 29th minute when Marc Cucurella blasted the ball into the roof of the net following a corner. However, the effort was ruled out after the referee judged that goalkeeper Alexander Schlager had been fouled in the build-up.
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Moments later, Oyarzabal nearly put Spain in front with a powerful low drive aimed at the bottom corner, but Schlager reacted well to make the save and push the ball wide of the post.
Spain eventually found the breakthrough in the 36th minute. Pedri released Cucurella down the left, and the defender delivered a precise low cross for Oyarzabal to convert from close range, giving his side a deserved 1-0 advantage. Spain nearly doubled their lead before the interval, but Alex Baena struck the woodwork from a free-kick before Schlager produced another excellent save to deny Yamal from close range.
The European champions resumed the second half with the same intensity and extended their lead in the 66th minute. Cucurella regained possession before feeding Baena, whose cut-back found the advancing Porro, and the fullback headed beyond Schlager to score his first goal for Spain and make it 2-0.
Yamal came close to adding a third goal five minutes from time, only to see his effort cleared off the line by David Alaba. However, Oyarzabal completed his brace in the 89th minute after another excellent pass from Cucurella, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner to seal an emphatic 3-0 victory.
The convincing win sends Spain into the Round of 16, where they will meet either Portugal or Croatia. Austria, meanwhile, bow out of the tournament following their defeat.
