Spain vs. Austria Picks and Prediction for Thursday, July 2, 2026
Spain and Austria meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Thursday at 300 PM ET on FOX. Spain won Group H with seven points after defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while drawing Cape Verde. Austria finished second in Group J after beating Jordan, losing to Argentina, and drawing Algeria to reach the knockout stage. Spain enters this matchup unbeaten in its last five matches, while Austria has one win over its last three World Cup games. Check out today's free World Cup picks.
Spain Yet to Concede a Goal
Spain has quietly been one of the tournament's most complete teams through the group stage. After opening with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, La Roja responded with a dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia before defeating Uruguay 1-0 to secure first place. Spain averaged 1.67 goals per match while becoming one of only a few teams to keep three consecutive clean sheets.
Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spain with two goals, while Lamine Yamal and Γlex Baena have each added one. Oyarzabal, Aymeric Laporte, and Dani Olmo have all contributed assists as Spain continues to generate chances from multiple positions. Luis de la Fuente's side has dominated possession throughout the tournament, averaging an impressive 69%, while allowing opponents only 0.18 expected goals per match, the best defensive mark among the remaining teams.
Spain also enters the knockout stage unbeaten in five straight matches dating back to pre-tournament friendlies. Victories over Peru, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay have highlighted the team's balance, while the defensive unit continues to frustrate opponents by limiting quality scoring opportunities.
Injuries: No injuries have been reported for Spain.
Austria Hoping to Pull Off the Upset
Austria reached the knockout stage after a dramatic group campaign that finished with four points. Das Team opened with a 3-1 victory over Jordan before falling 2-0 to Argentina. Austria then secured second place with an entertaining 3-3 draw against Algeria, scoring late to keep its World Cup hopes alive.
Marko ArnautoviΔ leads Austria with two tournament goals, while Marcel Sabitzer and Romano Schmid have each scored once. Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, and David Alaba have all recorded assists, giving Austria contributions throughout the lineup. Austria averaged 2.00 goals per match but also conceded six goals during group play, exposing defensive issues that become more concerning against a possession-heavy opponent like Spain.
Ralf Rangnick's side has shown toughness throughout the group stage and remains dangerous on quick transitions. However, Austria will likely spend long stretches defending without the ball and must capitalize on the limited opportunities it creates against one of the tournament's strongest defensive teams.
Injuries: No injuries have been reported for Austria.
Recent Head-to-Head
Spain has won the last two meetings between the nations by a combined 6-2 score. The most recent matchup came in a 2009 international friendly, when Spain earned a 5-1 victory. Austria's last competitive win over Spain came at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, where it claimed a 2-1 victory.
Spain vs. Austria Match Pick
- Spain Moneyline (-320)
Spain has been one of the most disciplined teams in the tournament, combining elite possession with outstanding defensive organization. Three straight clean sheets and the tournament's best expected goals against numbers illustrate how difficult La Roja has been to break down. Austria has enough attacking quality through ArnautoviΔ and Sabitzer to remain competitive, but its defensive inconsistencies are a major concern against a Spanish side that patiently controls matches. Spain should dictate possession from the opening whistle and eventually wear Austria down to secure a place in the Round of 16.
Spain vs. Austria Over/Under Pick
- Under 2.5 Goals (-105)
Spain has built its success on defensive control rather than high-scoring matches, conceding zero goals through three World Cup fixtures. Austria is capable of creating chances on the counterattack but will likely spend much of the match defending in its own half. Spain should control the tempo and avoid unnecessary risks, making a 2-0 or 1-0 result the most likely outcome in this Round of 32 matchup.