Spain tops Group H, will face Austria or Algeria in first-ever World Cup round of 32 on 2 July

Group stage secured

Spain finished the group phase with seven points after a goalless draw with Cape Verde, a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, and a 1-0 win against Uruguay in the early hours of Saturday. Baena scored the only goal in that match, helped by a costly error from Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera. The result was enough to seal the top spot and avoid a round-of-32 meeting with defending champions Argentina.

A new round in World Cup history

The 2026 tournament is the first to include a round of 32 (dieciseisavos de final), an extra knockout stage introduced because the expanded 48-team format requires one more match on the road to the final. For Spain, this means eight victories are needed to become world champions instead of seven. The team enters the knockout phase in good shape and with the logistical advantage of staying on the U.S. West Coast.

Opponent undecided

Austria currently occupies second place in Group J, level on points with Algeria but ahead on goal difference. Jordan has zero points and would need an enormous upset against Argentina to change the picture. Spain will know its rival after the Austria–Algeria match, which kicks off late on Saturday night. The second-placed team will face Spain, while the third-placed side meets Switzerland.

Schedule and venue

The round-of-32 tie is set for Thursday 2 July at 21:00 Spanish mainland time. It will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, a venue with a capacity of around 70,000 spectators. The match will be broadcast free-to-air on RTVE and also carried by DAZN, including through the Movistar+ platform.

Road ahead

If Spain advances, the hypothetical round of 16 would take place on Friday 10 July, the semi-finals on Tuesday 14 July, and the final on Sunday 19 July – all in the same evening time slot. The third-place match is scheduled for Saturday 18 July at a later hour.