Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain brushed aside Austria to book their place in the World Cup Round of 16 and end a knockout-stage hoodoo stretching back to their 2010 triumph.
Luis de la Fuente's side controlled the tempo throughout and rarely looked troubled, keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet of the 2026 tournament and extending their unbeaten run to 34 matches.
Spain thought they had opened the scoring in the 29th minute, but Marc Cucurella's effort was disallowed after a controversial foul on Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
The breakthrough arrived seven minutes later. Cucurella supplied the assist and Oyarzabal was on hand to convert and settle any nerves in the 36th minute.
Spain should have doubled the lead before the interval, but Álex Baena's free-kick cannoned back off the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
The second goal came in the 66th minute as Baena teed up Pedro Porro, who finished emphatically to put daylight between the two sides.
Austria refused to disappear and captain David Alaba produced a superb goal-line clearance in the 85th minute to deny Lamine Yamal a deserved reward.
Oyarzabal had the final word in the 89th minute, again set up by Cucurella, to complete his brace and wrap up a comfortable 3-0 victory.
History was made in the starting line-up as Pau Cubarsí and Yamal became the first pair of teenagers to begin a World Cup knockout match together since Pelé and Altafini for Brazil in 1958.
Spain managed without Nico Williams, who missed out through a thigh injury sustained against Uruguay, yet still carried a persistent attacking threat down both flanks.
Ahead of kick-off Ralf Rangnick had cast his side as underdogs, admitting Austria would "probably lose seven, eight or even nine matches out of ten against Spain."
So it proved, as Austria bowed out in their first World Cup knockout appearance since 1954, undone by Spain's control and clinical edge.
De la Fuente's men now advance to the last 16, where they will meet the winner of Portugal versus Croatia at Dallas Stadium on 6 July.
For Spain, the victory offered both statement and reassurance, banishing years of knockout frustration and hinting that their pursuit of another world title is gathering pace.








