Spain 3-0 Austria — World Cup: Recap, Highlights & Reactions

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Spain went 16 years without winning a World Cup knockout game—until Unai Simón built an unbreakable wall.

The European champions were expected to struggle with their brutal knockout history, but Unai Simón's record-shattering glovework just launched them into the next round.

Spain had not won a World Cup knockout match since lifting the trophy in 2010. That 16-year nightmare is finally over. Luis de la Fuente's side brushed Austria aside 3-0 at , fueled by a clinical brace and 's thumping header. Rodri's press-resistant play in midfield successfully bypassed Austria's aggressive front-footed press to find space behind their backline. Goalkeeper anchored the defense, playing 519 consecutive minutes without conceding to break the all-time World Cup record. Next up is the winner of Portugal v Croatia.

— and get this

went 519 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, breaking Walter Zenga's 36-year-old World Cup record of 517 minutes.

This 3-0 victory marks Spain's first men's World Cup knockout stage win since their 1-0 extra-time triumph over the Netherlands in the 2010 final.

Austria made their first World Cup knockout appearance in 72 years, a historic run stretching back to their third-place finish in 1954.

Real-money prediction markets on Polymarket saw Austria's elimination probability hit 100% as the final whistle blew in Los Angeles.