Spain vs. Austria projected lineups, starting 11 for World Cup Round of 32 game in Los Angeles

Spain vs. Austria projected lineups, starting 11 for World Cup Round of 32 game in Los Angeles originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Spain and Austria meet on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in a World Cup Round of 32 clash, with a place in the last 16 on the line.

La Roja reached the knockouts as Group H winners, taking seven points from nine and not conceding a single goal, sealing top spot with a 1-0 win over Uruguay through an Alex Baena strike.

Austria came through as Group J runners-up behind Argentina, scraping into the last 32 with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Algeria that Sasa Kalajdzic rescued with a 96th-minute equaliser.

Spain arrive on a 34-match unbeaten run in all competitions and are yet to concede at this World Cup, making them strong favorites to go through. Austria, in the knockout rounds for the first time since 1954, have not beaten Spain since 1990.

Here is how we expect the teams to line up.

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Spain starting 11

(4-2-3-1 right to left): 23. U. Simon (GK) — 12. P. Porro, 22. P. Cubarsi, 14. A. Laporte, 24. M. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 20. Pedri — 19. Lamine Yamal, 10. D. Olmo, 21. M. Oyarzabal, 15. A. Baena

• Injured: Y. Pino (shoulder), N. Williams (adductor), V. Munoz (thigh)
• Suspended: None

Spain are missing Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz due to injury, which has left their forward line looking depleted.

Still, they can call upon in-form Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal in addition to Lamine Yamal, who has openly admitted he has been relishing the start of the knockout phase. Dani Olmo also starts this game to add extra attacking verve to midfield, with Mikel Merino dropping out.

The team is otherwise largely set, with Unai Simon still preferred to Arsenal’s David Raya in goal. Pedro Porro gets the nod at right-back today in place of Marcos Llorente.

Austria projected starting 11

(4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. A. Schlager (GK) — 5. S. Posch, 15. P. Lienhart, 8. D. Alaba, 16. P. Mwene — 6. N. Seiwald, 4. X. Schlager — 20. K. Laimer, 18. R. Schmid, 9. M. Sabitzer — 7. M. Arnautovic

• Injured: None
• Suspended: None

Defender David Alaba and striker Marko Arnautovic are both nursing knocks, but it is hoped that they will be ready to start.

Austria’s industrious side will make life difficult for Spain, particularly through the running and counter-pressing of Marcel Sabitzer and Konrad Laimer, but there are concerns about fatigue levels potentially making things difficult for them in the latter stages of the game.

Spain vs. Austria predictions, betting odds

Spain have been the meanest defence at the tournament and have yet to concede, while Austria have not kept a clean sheet in 12 straight World Cup matches. Even with their attacking injuries, La Roja should have too much quality and progress to the last 16. 

• Score prediction: Spain 2-1 Austria

Spain vs. Austria World Cup rosters

Here are the names on the Spain vs. Austria World Cup rosters, as named for the 2026 tournament.

Spain World Cup roster

Head coach: Luis de la Fuente

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK23Unai SimonAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2857GK1David RayaArsenal (Premier League, England)3012GK13Joan GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)251DEF24Marc CucurellaChelsea (Premier League, England)2723DEF3Alejandro GrimaldoBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)3012DEF22Pau CubarsiBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)1911DEF14Aymeric LaporteAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)3144DEF4Eric GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2519DEF2Marc PubillAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)220DEF5Marcos LlorenteAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)3123DEF12Pedro PorroTottenham (La Liga, Spain)2616MID20PedriBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2340MID8Fabian RuizParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, Spain)3041MID18Martin ZubimendiArsenal (Premier League, England)2725MID9GaviBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2128MID16RodriManchester City (Premier League, England)2961MID15Alex BaenaAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2415FWD21Mikel OyazarbalReal Sociedad (La Liga, Spain)2952FWD10Dani OlmoBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2848FWD17Nico WilliamsAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2330FWD11Yeremy PinoCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)2321FWD7Ferran TorresBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2655FWD26Borja IglesiasCelta Vigo (La Liga, Spain)336FWD25Victor MunozOsasuna (La Liga, Spain)222FWD19Lamine YamalBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)1825

Austria World Cup roster

Head coach: Ralf Rangnick

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK13Patrick PentzBronby (Superliga, Denmark)2918GK1Alexander SchlagerRed Bull Salzburg (Bundesliga, Austria)3026GK12Florian WiegeleViktoria Plzen (First League, Czechia)251DEF2David AffengruberElche (La Liga, Spain)251DEF8David AlabaReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)33113DEF3Kevin DansoTottenham (Premier League, England)2732DEF23Marco FriedlWerder Bremen (Bundesliga, Germany)2811DEF15Philipp LienhartFreiburg (Bundesliga, Germany)2941DEF16Philipp MweneMainz (Bundesliga, Germany)3230DEF22Alexander PrassHoffenheim (Bundesliga, Germany)2519DEF5Stefan PoschMainz (Bundesliga, Germany)2952DEF25Michael SvobodaVenezia (Serie A, Italy)274MID17Carney ChukwuemekaBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)223MID10Florian GrillitschBraga (Primeira Liga, Portugal)3058MID20Konrad LaimerBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)2957MID9Marcel SabitzerBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)3298MID6Nicolas SeiwaldRB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany)2851MID4Xaver SchlagerRB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany)2851MID18Romano SchmidWerder Bremen (Bundesliga, Germany)2635MID26Alessandro SchopfWolfsberger (Bundesliga, Austria)3235MID24Paul WannerPSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)203MID21Patrick WimmerVfL Wolfsburg (Bundesliga, Germany)2530FWD7Marko ArnautovicRed Star Belgrade (SuperLiga, Serbia)37133FWD11Michael GregoritschAugsburg (Bundesliga, Germany)3275FWD14Sasa KalajdzicLASK (Bundesliga, Austria)2822

Where to watch Spain vs. Austria

•  TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/website

This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.

The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up for a FREE trial.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Here is how to watch the match in some of the other major territories:

RegionTVStreamingCanadaTSN1, TSN3, TSN4, RDSTSN+, RDS appUKBBC OneBBC iPlayer, BBC Sport websiteAustraliaSBSSBS On DemandIndiaUnite8 Sports 1, 2ZEE5