Spain prepares for knockout matchup against Austria in World Cup

Spain faces Austria in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup in Inglewood on July 2. Despite finishing first in Group H with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, and a 1-0 victory against Uruguay, Spain is under scrutiny following a poor knockout record since winning the tournament in 2010. La Roja has struggled in knockout rounds, being eliminated in the Round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022 after penalty shootouts, and they haven't advanced past the last 16 for over 16 years. The upcoming match against Austria serves as an opportunity to break this trend.

• 5:40 PMYahoo Sports — Spain record in World Cup knockouts: Breaking down La Roja’s terrible run since 2010 trophy win