It’s another World Cup campaign to forget for Uruguay.
The two-time world champions were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in their final Group H fixture on Friday, condemning La Celeste to a second straight group-stage exit after suffering the same fate in Qatar four years ago.
Spain topped the group with seven points from two wins and a draw, while World Cup debutants Cape Verde claimed the second automatic knockout spot after holding Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw. Uruguay finished on just two points, level with bottom-placed Saudi Arabia, and also fell short of securing one of the eight best third-placed qualification spots.
Ranked 16th in the world and second-highest in the group behind Spain, Uruguay arrived
with high expectations but failed to live up to them. Marcelo Bielsa’s side could only manage draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde before falling to Spain in a must-win encounter.
How It Unfolded
Spain dominated possession but found Uruguay’s defence difficult to break down for much of the opening half. The breakthrough finally arrived moments before the interval when Alex Baena’s strike slipped through the hands of veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the net, handing Spain a crucial lead.
Muslera was replaced at half-time following the costly error, and Uruguay threw everything forward in search of an equaliser. But Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon produced key saves to deny Mathias Olivera and Nicolas de la Cruz, while Ferran Torres came close to doubling the lead after striking the crossbar.
Uruguay’s frustrations boiled over deep into stoppage time when Agustin Canobbio was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi, capping off a disappointing evening for the South Americans.
The result not only sealed Spain’s place in the knockout stage but also completed a remarkable story elsewhere in the group, with tournament debutants Cape Verde advancing at Uruguay’s expense.
