Spain continued their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Austria in the Round of 32. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, while Pedro Porro added another goal as Luis de la Fuente’s side booked their place in the round of 16 with another dominant performance.The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 34 matches in all competitions. With four clean sheets in four World Cup games and a squad full of in-form stars, Spain are now looking like one of the strongest contenders for the title. If both teams keep winning, they could meet France in a blockbuster semi-final.
Spain’s form, defence and star players make them genuine FIFA World Cup 2026 contenders
Spain have quietly become one of the most complete teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Their latest victory over Austria showed why many believe they are capable of lifting the trophy.The European champions have now gone 34 matches without defeat in normal play. Their last defeat came against Colombia in March 2024. Since then, Luis de la Fuente has built a team that combines confidence, discipline and attacking quality. This unbeaten run has given Spain huge belief and made them one of the toughest teams to beat.Their defence has been equally impressive. Spain are yet to concede a goal in four World Cup matches. Goalkeeper Unai Simón has been outstanding between the posts. While centre-backs Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí have formed a reliable partnership. The experienced Laporte provides leadership, while the young Cubarsí continues to impress with his composure and reading of the game.Spain also have quality across the midfield. Pedri continues to control games with his passing and movement, while the team’s quick transitions make them dangerous whenever they win possession.In attack, Mikel Oyarzabal has been one of the standout performers. His two well-taken goals against Austria took his tournament tally to four. Although he may not receive as much attention as some other forwards, his intelligent movement, finishing and work rate make him a vital player for Spain.Lamine Yamal is another player attracting attention. The teenage winger continues to excite with his dribbling and creativity. Against Austria, he regularly beat defenders with clever footwork. He created several dangerous moments. Although he did not score, his performance showed he is returning to his best after recent fitness concerns.Spain also looked dangerous down the left side. Marc Cucurella and Álex Baena combined brilliantly throughout the match. Cucurella created two goals with his attacking runs, while Baena’s movement constantly stretched the Austrian defence and opened space for his teammates.Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Spain is their balance. They defend with discipline, control possession through midfield and have several players capable of scoring goals. Every area of the team is performing well at the right time.Their next knockout match will provide a tougher test, but Spain have shown they are ready for the challenge. If they continue this level of performance, they will be one of the favourites to reach the final.
