Spain put their World Cup rivals on notice with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria on Thursday thanks to a Mikel Oyarzabal double and another commanding defensive display to reach the last 16.
Spain, who arrived at the tournament among the favourites and have yet to concede a goal, made a slow start with a draw against Cape Verde but Austria had no answer to their opponents’ relentless attack and impenetrable back line on a sunny day in Southern California.
While Spain’s attack, especially teenage forward Lamine Yamal, gets most of the attention, their defence continues to excel.
They did not allow a shot on target on Thursday, the first team to achieve that feat in a World Cup knockout match since Germany in the 2014 final against Argentina.
Spain will face Portugal or Croatia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Separately, Breel Embolo scored in the first half, Dan Ndoye tallied at the start of the second half and Switzerland advanced to the World Cup’s round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Algeria on Thursday night in Vancouver.
Johan Manzambi set up the first goal with a dazzling run and Gregor Kobel made two saves as the Swiss reached the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup.
Switzerland will face either Colombia or Ghana on Tuesday in Vancouver.
In another match, Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after a gripping contest with Croatia.
Ramos connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snuff out a Croatia team which had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping evening heat in Toronto.
In a dramatic ending, Croatia thought they had equalized in the dying seconds but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside. The Croatians were left stunned by the decision, while Portugal’s players celebrated.
Josko Gvardiol #4 of Croatia scores a goal that was disallowed following a VAR review during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images via AFP) Cristiano Ronaldo played his role in the victory, stroking home a penalty that canceled out Ivan Perisic’s opener.
It was Ronaldo’s first ever goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup and his remarkable international career will have another chapter when Portugal face Spain in Dallas on Monday.