As the World Cup 2026 progresses, Spain will take on Austria in a crucial knockout match at 02:00 on July 3 at SoFi Stadium in the USA. Spain comes into this match with an impressive record, remaining unbeaten in their last 20 matches, including 13 victories. After a somewhat lackluster opening match that ended in a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, Spain bounced back with a commanding 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a narrow 1-0 victory against Uruguay, eliminating the South American team from the tournament.

Despite some issues in their gameplay, Spain, under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente, appears to be hitting their stride as they enter the knockout phase. Key players such as Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Pedri are expected to shine, and the team is confident heading into this match against Austria, who has struggled in their group stage matches.

Austria's performance has been less impressive, managing only one win against Jordan while suffering a 0-2 defeat to Argentina and drawing 3-3 with Algeria. This inconsistency raises doubts about their ability to challenge a formidable opponent like Spain. Historically, Spain has dominated their recent encounters with Austria, winning four out of the last five matches, including a resounding 5-1 victory in their last meeting in 2009.

In terms of team news, Spain will be without two wing players due to injuries, Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino. However, they welcome back midfielder Pedri, who is fit to start alongside Rodri in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Austria will also be missing midfielder Christoph Baumgartner due to injury and is expected to field a similar formation with Marko Arnautovic leading their attack.

Statistically, Spain has consistently scored in the first half of their recent matches, with 18 out of their last 20 games featuring at least one goal in the opening period. In contrast, Austria has also shown a tendency to score early in matches, making for an exciting prospect as both teams aim for a strong start.

In conclusion, Spain is favored to win this match, potentially by a significant margin. The team is expected to put on a strong offensive display against Austria, who will need to step up their game to avoid an early exit from the tournament.