Spain Breaks 16-Year Curse, Wins World Cup Knockout Match for First Time Since 2010

Spain's men's national football team secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the World Cup on Thursday, July 3, 2026, by defeating Austria 3-0 in the first knockout round. This victory marks Spain's first win in a World Cup knockout match since 2010, breaking a long-standing drought.

Spain dominated early, but a goal in the 29th minute was disallowed after the referee deemed a foul on the Austrian goalkeeper. However, in the 36th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a precise shot from inside the penalty area following a pass from Marc Cucurella.

Spain continued to control the second half. In the 66th minute, after sustained pressure, Alex Baena set up Pedro Porro, who headed the ball into the net for his first international goal, making it 2-0. Late in the match, in the 89th minute, Oyarzabal scored his second goal off another assist from Cucurella, sealing the 3-0 win.

Spain will face either Portugal or Croatia in the Round of 16. This is the first World Cup featuring 48 teams, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The teams are divided into 12 groups, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage. Semifinals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, the bronze medal match on July 18, and the final on July 19. Argentina won the previous tournament in 2022.