World Cup 2026: Austria meets Spain as Germany exits early

Austria’s men’s football team will face European champions Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday at 21:00 local time in Los Angeles. Coach Ralf Rangnick highlighted the need to “overcome our limits” against a strong Spanish side, while captain David Alaba, a former Real Madrid defender, expressed confidence ahead of the match. Austria qualified for the knockout stage after a dramatic group‑stage finish, earning a last‑minute goal against Algeria and advancing on goal difference.

Former German star Lothar Matthäus explained Germany’s early elimination after a penalty‑shootout loss to Paraguay in the previous round. He attributed the defeat in part to players’ families traveling with the squad, which he said disrupted focus and turned the tournament into a “family vacation” rather than a competitive event. Matthäus recalled similar distractions during his own World Cup experiences and suggested that better management of personal commitments could have changed the outcome.