European champions Spain will look to secure a place in the round of 16 at the World Cup tonight when they face Austria.
Luis de la Fuente’s side had a slow start with a surprise goalless draw against Cape Verde but have looked impressive in their two subsequent games, against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, winning both without conceding.
And with Lamine Yamal looking sharper as the tournament progresses, they will take some stopping.
It is, therefore, a sizeable task for an Austria side who scraped through the group stage courtesy of a last-minute equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Algeria.
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Where to watch Spain v Austria: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Thursday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Spain v Austria stats
- Spain won at least two group-stage matches in a single FIFA World Cup edition for the first time since 2010, when they beat Honduras and Chile, while also finishing a World Cup group stage without conceding for the first time in their history.
- Spain have not had less possession than their opponent in a FIFA World Cup match since their 2002 quarter-final against Korea Republic, when they recorded 49% possession (25 consecutive matches with higher possession including tonight’s match).
- Spain are the second team to finish their 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage without conceding a single goal, following Mexico; Argentina and Ghana could also join this list tomorrow
- Rodri has attempted (350) and completed (328) the most passes of any player still involved in the competition who is yet to play in the last 32. The Manchester City midfielder has also played the most successful passes of anyone at the World Cup in the final third (109)
- Aymeric Laporte has carried the ball the most distance (1,059 metres) of any player still involved and carried the most progressive distance overall (868.7m)
- Austria have advanced beyond the initial group stage for the first time since 1982, when the tournament took place in Spain
- Sasa Kalajdzic scored 61 seconds after coming on as a substitute. That was the third-fastest goal by a substitute in this year’s FIFA World Cup and the eight-fastest ever.
- Marko Arnautovic became the first player who is at least 37 years old to have both a goal and a yellow card in the same FIFA World Cup match.
- Marko Arnautovic has scored two FIFA World Cup goals since turning 37. The only other players in FIFA World Cup history to score multiple goals at 37 or older are Lionel Messi (6), Roger Milla (5), and Cristiano Ronaldo (3)
- Tonight’s match was Austria’s 12th consecutive FIFA World Cup match conceding at least one goal. The only European teams to have a longer such streak in FIFA World Cup play are Switzerland (22, 1934 – 1994) and Sweden (15, 1974 -1994).
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
