World Cup Fixtures Today: All Day 5 World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Predictions – 2nd July
Enda McElhinney
Austria face Spain in their first World Cup knockout game in 72 years
European heavyweights Portugal and Croatia meet in Toronto
There have been 22 goals in the games featuring Switzerland and Algeria
Day 5 of the World Cup's first knockout round brings three more games and there is a real European feel to it, with five of the six competing teams from the continent that has provided four of the last five World Cup winners.
European champions Spain have put an early hiccup behind them to top their group and now face an Austrian side back in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 1954.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still fighting off criticism despite scoring two goals during the group phase, his Portugal side now squares up to 2022 semi-finalists Croatia and Luka Modric in a battle of the 40-somethings.
Switzerland and Algeria saw their group stage games littered with goalmouth action and both will fancy their chances of making the last 16 as they prepare to duel in Vancouver.
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Spain vs Austria (Thursday, 8pm)
Spain's opening draw with Cape Verde was quite the shock early in this tournament, but Luis de la Fuente's side have put that behind them to beat Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
La Roja have not conceded a goal and they came through qualifying while conceding just twice in six games with five clean sheets.
Of the 22 goals they scored in that qualifying run, 12 were netted before half time and they were in front in five games at the break.
After their surprise blank against Cape Verde, they hit Saudi Arabia for three goals inside 24 minutes and also got their noses in front before the interval against Uruguay.
Austria were fortunate that Lionel Messi did not convert an early penalty in their second group game, but Das Team were still behind at the break as the mercurial Argentinian atoned for his error.
Spain's three group phase opponents landed a combined tally of three shots on target and de la Fuente's side should boss this clash in Los Angeles from early on.
Score prediction: Spain 3-0 Austria
Back Spain Half-Time/Full-Time @ 10/11 with LiveScore Bet
Portugal vs Croatia (Friday, 12am)
Croatia's ability to gain results in World Cup knockout games demands more respect than the layers are giving them against a Portuguese side operating with a Ronaldo-bias handcuffing them.
The legendary forward, now 41, is not matching Messi in the twilight of his career as he did for so many years and now looks a hindrance.
Manager Roberto Martinez seems unwilling to call him ashore and it could hurt a Portugal side that failed to beat DR Congo or Colombia and managed just three shots on target across those two games either side of an easy win against Uzbekistan.
This is Croatia's seventh World Cup since independence and, including third-place play-offs, they are set for their 13th knockout game.
They have only ever been beaten by tournament winners – France in 1998 (semi-finals) and 2018 (final) and Argentina in Qatar in 2022 (semi-finals).
Portugal do not have the look of World Cup winners and with a 4-4 record in penalty shootouts, Croatia can outlast Ronaldo and company.
Score prediction: Portugal 1-1 Croatia
Back Croatia to go through @ 43/20 with LiveScore Bet
Switzerland vs Algeria (Friday, 4am)
Switzerland are growing stronger with each game after being caught by a sucker-blow in their opening 1-1 draw with Qatar.
Murat Yakin's side have dispatched Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as co-hosts Canada since and now face an Algeria side whose only win was a come-from-behind success against debutants Jordan.
They conceded three times against Argentina with no shots on target of their own and also leaked three in a weird draw with an Austrian side who played knowing a draw would put both teams through.
Even after Riyad Mahrez broke ranks to put Algeria ahead in the 93rd minute, the Austrians got the leveller they needed.
The Swiss have scored 15 times in seven games in 2026 and can eliminate the Fennecs.
Score prediction: Switzerland 3-1 Algeria
Back Switzerland to win @ 23/25 with LiveScore Bet
