WATCH: Pedro Porro header helps Spain breeze past Austria and into the World Cup Round of 16

The European champions were untroubled by Austria, who were never able to find a rhythm and only mustered one or two real chances on goal.

Pedro Porro's late header sealed Austria's fate in a match where Spain refused to relinquish control of the ball. Source: AAP / Chen Yichen / Sipa USA

In brief

• Spain swept passed Austria into the World Cup Round of 16.
• Strong on offense and fortress-like on defense, Spain never let Austria find momentum.

Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup Round of 16 on Friday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defence in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalía cheered on.

The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalising Round of 16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The Los Angeles Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favourite to America's second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria's goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal's low shot around the post.

Austria's defence finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the keeper.

Spain's dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal's close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers — Saša Kalajdžić and Marko Arnautović — and immediately went long, with Kalajdžić putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting "Oles" from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.

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