Live coverage and text updates as Spain play Austria in the Round of 32 knockout stage.
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De la Fuente told reporters to expect to see improvements in his team’s performance after their sluggish World Cup start.
“What I am seeing this week is that the team is beginning to recognise” things to fix, the coach said.
De la Fuente dismissed concerns about the enormous expectations weighing on his squad from Spanish supporters, despite the team’s early World Cup exits following their 2010 triumph.
“I love that it is demanded of us, because a lot is expected of us and what we have to do is respond to that expectation,” de la Fuente said.
MOST FOLLOWED NATIONAL TEAMS IN INSTAGRAM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sgeTkAGUZS
— FIFA World Cup 2026 (@FIFAWC26Updates) July 2, 2026
Austria do not have any suspensions or reported injury concerns.
Predicted starting XI:
(4-2-3-1): A.Schlager (goalkeeper); Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene; Seiwald, X. Schlager; Laimer, Sabitzer, Schmid; Arnautovic
Yeremi Pino (collarbone) and Nico Williams (hamstring) are out injured for Spain, while Victor Munoz (muscle) is a doubt.
Predicted starting XI:
(4-3-3): Simon (goalkeeper); Llorente, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Baena
🇪🇸 Spain or 🇦🇹 Austria: Who will win their World Cup round of 32 match? Vote below 👇
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) July 2, 2026
Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of Spain vs Austria in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
After arriving at the World Cup as one of the favourites, Spain have made a relatively low-key start to the tournament – but coach Luis de la Fuente maintains his team are on an upward curve and are exactly where they want to be as they reach the business end of the tournament.
“This squad is used to breaking records and overcoming rough patches; we are determined to keep moving forward,” de la Fuente said on Wednesday.
Ralf Rangnick’s Austria are making their first World Cup knockout appearance since 1954 after finishing runners-up in Group J.
Austria scored six goals in three group-stage matches, one more than Spain, but Rangnick acknowledges his side will need to raise their level against a team unbeaten in 34 matches stretching back to March 2023.
“We all know that we need to do even better tomorrow. Against Spain this is obvious,” Rangnick said. “We have to make one further step.”
The victor will face either Portugal or Croatia in the last 16.
We’ll bring you all the pre-match build-up, analysis and photo coverage of the game, followed by the team news as soon as the lineups are announced and will take you through the minute-by-minute live commentary.
SPAIN 🇪🇸 VS AUSTRIA 🇦🇹 WHO WILL WIN ? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/u8rdY7Gl1X
— FIFA World Cup 2026 (@FIFAWC26Updates) July 2, 2026
Spain take on Austria in Los Angeles, with the winner facing either Portugal or Croatia in the last 16.
Spain, Portugal and Switzerland take centre stage as the knockout drama continues across North America.
The last time the football icon was in Toronto was August 2009 when Real Madrid played a friendly against Toronto FC.
Diego Maradona turned a nation 17,000km from Argentina into die-hard fans. Lionel Messi has enthralled a new generation.
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