LOS ANGELES, United States – Web Desk: Spain produced a masterclass performance to defeat Austria 3-0 at the Los Angeles Stadium, securing their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 and ending a 16-year knockout-stage jinx that had haunted the European champions since their 2010 triumph .
Mikel Oyarzabal was the star of the show, scoring twice to take his tournament tally to four goals, while right-back Pedro Porro netted his maiden international goal to complete the scoring . Spain dominated from the opening whistle, dictating possession and pinning Austria deep inside their own half .
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when Marc Cucurella delivered a precise low cross from the left, allowing Oyarzabal to sweep home a first-time finish . Spain had earlier seen a goal disallowed after a VAR review judged Pau Cubarsi to have fouled Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager .
Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute through an elegant team move. Alex Baena’s inviting cross from the left found the run of Porro, who powered a header past Schlager for his first goal for La Roja . Oyarzabal sealed the victory in the 89th minute, once again combining with Cucurella to slide home his second goal of the match .
The victory marks Spain’s first World Cup knockout-stage win in regular time since Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time heroics in the 2010 final . Goalkeeper Unai Simon also made history, recording his fifth consecutive clean sheet and setting a new World Cup record of 519 minutes without conceding, surpassing the previous mark held by Italy’s Walter Zenga .
Spain will now face either Portugal or Croatia in the Round of 16 on July 6 in Dallas .
