Spain prepares for World Cup 2026 round of 16 clash with Austria at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium

Spain advanced to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup and will face Austria in a knockout match scheduled for Thursday at 21:00 local time. The encounter will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, a modern venue that opened in 2020, seats about 70,000 spectators and can be expanded to 100,000 for major events. It has previously hosted Super Bowl games, concerts by Shakira and Beyoncé, and serves as home to the NFL's Rams and Chargers.

Austria, noted for its historic “Wunderteam” and recent ‘gegenpressing’ style under coach Ralf Rangnick, will pose a tactical challenge. Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to field a side that includes Dani Olmo and Oyarzabal, aiming to leverage speed on the wings after a slower start in the group stage.