Spain's World Cup knockout stage struggles continue ahead of Austria match

Spain faces a persistent challenge in the World Cup knockout stages, having failed to secure a victory in this phase since their triumphant 2010 campaign.

Following their sole World Cup title in South Africa, Spain's subsequent tournament performances have been marked by early departures. In Brazil 2014, the defending champions were eliminated in the group stage after losses to the Netherlands and Chile. This marked the end of an era for a generation that had also won two European Championships.

Four years later, at Russia 2018, Spain reached the round of 16 but was defeated by the host nation on penalties after a 1-1 draw. That tournament was overshadowed by the last-minute sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui and the improvised appointment of Fernando Hierro.

The pattern continued in Qatar 2022, where Spain again exited in the round of 16. Despite dominating possession against Morocco, they managed only one shot on target in 120 minutes, ultimately losing another penalty shootout after a group stage that included a resounding 7-0 win over Costa Rica and a narrow defeat to Japan.

Now under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente, who has achieved success in youth categories and won the 2024 European Championship and 2025 Nations League, Spain enters the 2026 World Cup with the opportunity to overcome this 16-year hurdle. The expanded 48-team format includes a round of 32, where Spain will play Austria on Thursday. Despite being considered tournament favorites, their historical struggles in knockout matches present a significant obstacle they aim to conquer.