Spain v Austria prediction, lineups & tips, World Cup 2026 round of 32

Spain arrive at SoFi Stadium as one of the genuine contenders to lift the FIFA World Cup 2026, and their round-of-32 opponents Austria know it. Ralf Rangnick, the Austria head coach, put the gap in class plainly at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "We're massive underdogs," he said. "We couldn't be more of an underdog than we are in this game. We'd probably lose seven, eight or even nine matches out of ten against Spain. We have to make sure this isn't the tenth one."

It is the most honest self-assessment offered by any manager at this tournament, and it is also an accurate one.

Spain finished top of Group H without conceding a single goal across three matches. The 0-0 draw with Cape Verde on matchday one was an unwanted start, but Luis de la Fuente's side responded with a 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia before grinding out a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Guadalajara to seal top spot. Their xG against in those three games averages just 0.18 per match, and they averaged 69.3 per cent possession. This is a side built to suffocate.

De la Fuente, speaking ahead of the Austria tie, was characteristically measured. "We're continuing to grow under pressure; I love that high expectations are placed on us," he said. "Now it's up to us to live up to those expectations, because obviously there's no margin for error now."

Austria's path to the last 32 was far messier. They beat Jordan 3-1 on matchday one, then were swept aside 2-0 by Argentina, before a drama-filled finale against Algeria. Trailing 3-2 in the 93rd minute, they conceded to go 3-3, and then Sasa Kalajdzic scored in the 96th minute to level at 3-3 and squeeze Austria through as one of the best third-placed teams. It was a miraculous escape and their first World Cup knockout appearance since Spain 1982. Rangnick has given his Austria side purpose and structure since taking charge, but they have not kept a single clean sheet in these three group games, conceding at an average of two goals per match. Against a Spain side averaging 18.3 shots per game in the group stage, the defence will face severe examination.

Rangnick has identified stopping Lamine Yamal as one of his primary objectives. "He is one of the players we will watch very closely," the Austria manager said, "not to give him a lot of room."

Yamal, 18, tore his hamstring in April and has been managed carefully at this tournament, coming off the bench or starting within limits. He played 141 minutes across the three group games and scored once. De la Fuente is likely to give him a fuller role here. Whether Rangnick can deliver on his promise to suppress him is another question.

Predicted lineups for Spain v Austria

Multiple sources point to a settled Spain XI with Dani Olmo and Alex Baena filling the wide roles vacated by the injured pair. Austria are expected to line up in their familiar 4-2-3-1 with Marcel Sabitzer operating as the number ten behind Marko Arnautovic.

Spain: Simon; Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal

Austria: A. Schlager; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; X. Schlager, Seiwald; Laimer, Schmid, Sabitzer; Arnautovic

Where to watch Spain v Austria: TV and online streams

Spain v Austria kicks off at 20:00 BST on Thursday, 2 July at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles. Coverage in the UK is shared between BBC and ITV, who hold joint broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Check individual broadcaster listings for channel allocation. Live streams are available via BBC iPlayer and ITVX for UK viewers.