Why was Marc Cucurella’s goal ruled out in Spain vs Austria FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash?
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The Spain vs Austria match is taking place in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Spain took on Austria in their Round of 32 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 2. Marc Cucurella thought he had put La Roja ahead after finding the back of the net just before the half-hour mark, but the goal was disallowed by the on-field referee.
The two-time world champions began the match on the front foot, putting the Austrian defence under pressure right from the kick-off. However, strong defending and some good saves from Alexander Schlager kept the deadlock intact.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute from a corner kick. The ball was played in by Lamine Yamal from the right. Schlager tried to punch the ball away, but it fell kindly into the path of Cucurella. The full-back smashed it into the back of the net.
Also Read: Why is Yéremy Pino benched for Spain vs Austria
Why was Cucurella’s goal chalked off?
Spain’s celebrations, however, were cut short by the linesman, who seemed to indicate a foul to referee Glenn Nyberg. The Swedish match official also communicated his decision to the players: the goal will not stand.
Replays showed that defender Pau Cubarsi crashed into Schlager while the goalkeeper attempted to get his fist on the ball. Although the contact was minimal, FIFA has already set the standard during Germany’s cancelled goal against Paraguay.
Pierluigi Collina had earlier explained that any attempts to hinder an opposition player from challenging for a ball would be deemed a foul. As a result, the referee disallowed Cucurella’s goal, with the decision being supported by VAR.
Despite the reprieve, Austria conceded soon after when Mikel Oyarzabal found the back of the net with a fine finish in the 36th minute.
Why was Marc Cucurella’s goal ruled out vs Austria?
The goal was ruled out because Pau Cubarsi collided with goalkeeper Alexander Schlager during the corner, which was deemed a foul.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.