Spain defeated Austria 3-0 in the round of 16 qualifier of the 2026 World Cup, securing a place in the knockout stage. The match was decided by a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a header goal from Pedro Porro. Spain will face Portugal in the round of 16. According to Il Giornale, goalkeeper Unai Simon surpassed a record previously held by Walter Zenga. The Portugal-Croatia match that determined Spain's next opponent was marked by a debated refereeing decision: according to La Repubblica, a Croatia goal was disallowed in the 103rd minute of extra time after the ball's sensor detected a touch that determined an offside position. Former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic stated that there was an intention to set up a Portugal-Spain matchup in the round of 16, a claim that remains an opinion without institutional confirmation.