Uruguay’s journey in the World Cup ended abruptly following a costly mistake by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, which allowed Spain to secure a narrow 1-0 win in Guadalajara, clinching the top spot in Group H. The decisive moment came late in the first half when Alex Baena‘s relatively weak shot slipped past Muslera, proving enough to separate the teams and influence the group standings.
With this victory, Spain avoided a potentially challenging Round of 32 clash against reigning champions Argentina. Instead, Luis de la Fuente‘s squad will face either Austria or Algeria in Los Angeles as they advance to the knockout stage.
Uruguay’s disappointing exit and Cape Verde’s breakthrough
Meanwhile, Uruguay’s defeat confirmed the advancement of tournament newcomers Cape Verde, who secured the runners-up position in Group H after a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia. This outcome sets up an intriguing Round of 32 match between Cape Verde and Argentina, led by Lionel Messi.
For Uruguay, two-time world champions, the tournament concluded on a disappointing note as they finished at the bottom of their group. Their campaign featured draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia followed by the loss to Spain, marking them as the highest-ranked team eliminated in the group phase.
The tournament proved challenging not only on the pitch but also off it, with Marcelo Bielsa’s preparations reportedly affected by internal unrest in the dressing room after the draw with Saudi Arabia. This turmoil overshadowed the team’s efforts and contributed to their underwhelming performance.
Entering the final group match needing just a point to secure first place, Spain’s game failed to develop into the highly anticipated battle. Despite the return of Lamine Yamal to the starting lineup—who had inspired Spain’s commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia—La Roja struggled to impose their attacking rhythm against Uruguay.