Spain take on Austria in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, with kick-off at 8pm BST. The European champions finished top of Group H after victories over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, following a shock 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening match. Austria secured second place in Group J under former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick.
Spain's group stage performance
Spain opened their campaign with a goalless stalemate against Cape Verde, but bounced back emphatically. On matchday two in Atlanta, Georgia, they thrashed Saudi Arabia 4-0, with Lamine Yamal scoring on his first World Cup start and Mikel Oyarzabal netting a brace. In their final group game in Guadalajara, Mexico, a strike from Alex Baena secured a 1-0 victory over Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, sending them home.
Manager Luis de la Fuente has largely kept faith with the same starting XI throughout the group stage, making minimal changes. The only notable adjustments have been to manage injuries on the wings. Nico Williams is now a serious doubt for the remainder of the tournament, while Yamal is being carefully managed as he continues his recovery from a hamstring issue that sidelined him at the end of Barcelona's league campaign.
Austria's path and Rangnick's influence
Austria, led by Ralf Rangnick, finished second in Group J. The familiar face in the dugout brings a wealth of experience, having previously managed Manchester United. Austria will be looking to cause an upset against the European champions.
How to watch Spain vs Austria
In the UK, the match will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 7:30pm BST. UK viewers can also stream the contest live via BBC iPlayer or the BBC website.
Spain are aiming to reach the last 16, where they could face either Portugal or Croatia. Stay tuned for all the updates from SoFi Stadium.
