Spain vs. Austria Round of 32 Prediction: FIFA World Cup Odds, Betting Picks
Los Angeles Stadium hosts one of the Round of 32’s most stylistically compelling matchups on Thursday, as reigning European champions Spain take on a resurgent Austria side back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Luis de la Fuente’s side swept through Group H with seven points, five goals scored, and not a single one conceded. Austria arrived the hard way under Ralf Rangnick, finishing second in Group J after beating Jordan 3-1, losing 2-0 to Argentina, and surviving a chaotic 3-3 draw with Algeria in which a 96th-minute Sasa Kalajdzic header sent both teams through.
The contrast is sharp: Spain with order and the ball; Austria with a high press and a taste for late drama, making for a great matchup.
Check out our full list of live 2026 World Cup betting odds.
Spain vs. Austria FIFA World Cup: How to Watch and Match Info
- Time: Thursday, July 2 at 3 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Los Angeles Stadium (Inglewood, California)
- TV: TSN, TSN+
- Weather: Indoor, retractable-roof venue, but outside it will be 25°C, partly sunny, and cloudy
Spain vs. Austria Betting Odds
Spain are heavy favourites at -320 on the 90-minute moneyline, with Austria at +950 and the draw at +425. To advance, Spain are listed near -900 and Austria at +550. The Over/Under is 2.5; both sides have -110 odds.
Spain vs. Austria Predicted Starting XI Lineups
Spain Predicted Starting XI: 4-3-3
Simón
Llorente | Cubarsí | Laporte | Cucurella
Pedri | Rodri | Olmo
Yamal | Oyarzabal | Baena
Austria Predicted Starting XI: 4-2-3-1
Schlager
Posch | Lienhart | Alaba | Pwene
Seiwald | Schlager
Laimer | Schmid | Sabitzer
Arnautovic
Spain FIFA World Cup Odds and News
Spain have been the picture of collective efficiency in the group stage. After a goalless draw with Cape Verde in their opener, they produced a stunning 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia with Lamine Yamal netting his first World Cup goal and Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice. They followed that up with a 1-0 win over Uruguay, sealing Group H with seven points and three clean sheets.
The concern heading into Thursday is fitness: Yamal is managing a groin issue that saw him substituted against Uruguay, while Nico Williams suffered an ugly tackle that will likely cause him to miss this game. Oyarzabal leads Spain with two tournament goals, so they can beat you in multiple ways.
Austria FIFA World Cup Odds and News
Austria’s return to the World Cup has been competitive and dramatic. After a 3-1 win over Jordan and a 2-0 defeat to Argentina, they needed something special against Algeria, and they got it. Trailing with minutes remaining, Sasa Kalajdzic headed home in the 96th minute to send both teams through.
Marko Arnautovic led the line with two goals across the group stage, and Marcel Sabitzer drove the midfield, but the back four conceded six goals in three games. Rangnick’s high-press system can disrupt any side in the world on a given day; the question is whether it can survive 90 minutes against Spain’s technical quality.
Spain vs. Austria Player Odds and Props
- Lamine Yamal (ESP) Under 4.5 shots (-130): Yamal is the biggest threat in this Spanish attack, but he is less than 100 per cent and registered just two and one shots against Cape Verde and Uruguay.
- Marko Arnautovic (AUS) to score (+425): The 37-year-old has two goals through three games, even though he’s played just 113 minutes. He made the starting XI against Algeria, and if he does against Spain, he’ll be Austria’s biggest goal threat.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Bracket and Futures
Spain are priced at +700 to win the tournament, trailing France (+350) and Argentina (+400). A win here sets up a potential Round of 16 clash with Croatia or Portugal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Austria at +12,000 are among the longest prices remaining in the bracket, but Rangnick’s side has earned the right to believe.
Spain have not advanced beyond the Round of 16 at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2010; the pressure on De la Fuente to finally end that run is palpable.
Spain vs. Austria Score Prediction
Best bet: Austria +1.5 (-110)
Spain are the better team and should advance, but the matchup favours a controlled rather than emphatic win. Rangnick’s high press will cause De la Fuente’s side problems in transition, and with Yamal and Williams managing injuries, Spain are unlikely to fully open the throttle. This one could be extremely cagey, and I expect the 2024 Euro champions to need extra time to eliminate this Austrian side.