World Cup 2026: Spain vs. Austria Predictions

Spain vs. Austria Overview and Latest Odds

It’s hard to look past a Spain victory here against Austria based on the most recent World Cup odds. Oddsmakers have Spain listed as the clear favorite to advance past Das Team. Austria has not played in a World Cup knockout match since 1954.

• Location: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 2, 3:00 PM ET

• US Broadcast: FOX Sports

For readers who are unable to access traditional sportsbooks, regulated US prediction market apps are a legal alternative. These prediction platforms enable users to trade on future event outcomes, while drawing from the market’s accurate forecasts.

Expert Betting Predictions and Best Bets for Spain vs. Austria

Take a look at our expert betting predictions and best bets for the Round of 32 knockout match between Spain and Austria.

• Over 2.5 Goals

While Spain has yet to find their best form, Austria’s evident issues at the back mean there’s a strong chance of there being plenty of goals in this game. Das Team has been caught several times on the break, and Spain is at their best when they are given space in behind. That should allow the likes of Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal to have plenty of chances. 

If Spain takes the lead, Austria will have to come out and leave themselves even more open at the back. La Roja has yet to concede at this tournament and have conceded the lowest expected goals (xG) with just 0.5. However, Austria has shown they have the firepower to score goals.

• Lamine Yamal Anytime Goalscorer

Yamal is only just getting up to full fitness at this year’s World Cup, but he now looks close to being back to his best. His first-ever World Cup goal against Saudi Arabia will shake off some nerves, and he’s clearly Spain’s biggest threat. Austria should leave plenty of gaps in defense for the 18-year-old to capitalize on. At plus-money odds, this seems like a top-value bet to make.

• Mikel Oyarzabal to Have 4+ Shots

The Real Sociedad forward mainly impressed during the comfortable win over Saudi Arabia, racking up two goals and an assist. He took five shots in each game against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, and despite only registering one against Uruguay, Austria will play much more openly. Expect Oyarzabal to get plenty of opportunities here.

Spain Betting Preview

Cape Verde pulled off one of the first shocks of the tournament after they drew 0-0 with Spain during Matchday 1. Spain struggled without Yamal and Nico Williams in the starting lineup, and looked one-dimensional. Their speed and trickery down the flanks was a major factor in leading them to their Euro 2024 triumph.

Yamal returned to the starting XI for the 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia, scoring the opener at the back post following a cross from Oyarzabal from the left. Oyarzabal struggled against Cape Verde, but bounced back in the victory over Saudi Arabia, also netting twice. Saudi Arabia was far less defensively structured than Cape Verde, leaving more space behind their defense for Spain to exploit.

Luis de la Fuente’s men edged a narrow 1-0 win over a poor Uruguay side in Matchday 3 to secure top spot in Group H. They’re yet to concede a goal and have looked organized at the back, but they are yet to face an elite offense. Overall, it’s their lacklustre play offensively that has been a concern.

Despite failing to get a goal contribution against Uruguay, Spain will be glad to see Yamal get around 75 minutes under his belt as he continues to build his fitness. However, Williams has now been ruled out for the rest of the tournament after suffering an injury against Uruguay, which is a major blow. La Roja lacks balance and misses his speed down the left-hand side.

Austria Betting Preview

Austria left it late to get the job done against Algeria on Matchday 3 to secure second place in Group J. They kicked off their World Cup campaign with a solid 3-1 win over Jordan, before losing 2-0 against Argentina, courtesy of a Lionel Messi brace. A stunning six-goal thriller against Algeria, ending in a 3-3 draw, saw the Austrians sneak through into the Round of 32 as runners-up.

Defensively, Das Team has looked vulnerable in transition. They’ve left plenty of space in behind their defense and have struggled to stay compact overall. Those defensive woes could get exposed against a deadly Spain team on their day. Experienced center-back and captain David Alaba still has quality, but is past his best and hasn’t played many games over the last few seasons.

Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer will be important going forward. He’s predominantly featured from the left wing, cutting inside to get crosses into the box, and also netted a goal against Algeria with a fantastic finish. Veteran Marko Arnautovic has scored twice for Ralf Ragnick’s side at the tournament thus far and is in contention to lead the line.

How Spain and Austria Match Up Against Each Other

Expect Spain to dominate possession in typical fashion. They have averaged the highest possession in the tournament so far (69.4%). However, they have managed just the 15th-most shots on target per game (5.3), meaning the Spaniards have struggled to create meaningful chances. Their play has been quite pedestrian and lacked guile thus far.

Marc Cucurella will be tasked with creating overlaps down the left, especially with a more inverted left winger likely to occupy the role. Yamal has said he is ready to play the full 90 minutes here, despite only being at around 90% fitness. He’ll be the man Spain look to over on the right, with either Marcos Llorente or Pedro Porro also getting forward in support.

Das Team only had 35% of the ball against Algeria so will be under plenty of pressure. They will need to be much more structured against Spain than they have been across all of their group-stage games so far, particularly given their defensive issues in the 3-3 draw with Algeria. Ragnick’s men should look towards Cape Verde’s defensive structure as the blueprint, since Spain struggled to break down their low block. If they leave themselves too open, La Roja have more than enough quality to capitalize.