Uruguay eliminated from World Cup after loss to Spain, Bielsa says his tenure left nothing for Uruguayan soccer

Spain ends Uruguay’s tournament

Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 in Guadalajara on Friday to top Group H and eliminate the two-time world champions. Álex Baena scored in the 42nd minute when his shot was fumbled into the net by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was then substituted at halftime. Uruguay pressed after the break but could not beat Unai Simón, while Ferran Torres hit the crossbar for Spain. Agustín Canobbio’s stoppage-time red card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí summed up Uruguay’s frustration.

The defeat left Uruguay with only two points from three matches, after draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Uruguay became the only CONMEBOL side not to reach the knockout stage of an expanded 48-team tournament where 32 nations advance. Spain finished with seven points and no goals conceded, while debutants Cape Verde took the second knockout berth with three consecutive draws.

Bielsa shoulders the blame

Marcelo Bielsa, whose contract runs through the tournament, was desolate after the match. The Argentine said his three-year stint had yielded nothing tangible.

What do I leave for Uruguayan soccer? Nothing, because any contribution that a coach might make to soccer in a country after three years of work never truly takes hold if results aren’t achieved. Fourth place in the qualifiers didn’t count for much, and a third-place finish in the Copa América didn’t, either. A tenure that left nothing behind.

He insisted Uruguay deserved better from its performances, claiming they should have earned seven points from the three group games. The exit was the second time Bielsa has overseen a group-stage elimination at a World Cup, the first being Argentina’s campaign in 2002.

Friction inside the camp

The disappointment unfolded amid mounting tension over Bielsa’s methods. Uruguay’s all-time record scorer Luis Suárez had earlier questioned the intensity of training and the team’s direction. Local media reported that captains Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte and goalkeeper Sergio Rochet held a tense meeting with Bielsa before the Spain match to raise concerns about physical demands and tactical approach, with players concerned that fatigue was affecting their performances.

A winless run stretching back to a friendly against Uzbekistan last October, combined with the internal friction, leaves Bielsa’s future uncertain, though he had already hinted his tenure would end after the tournament.

Spain’s momentum and Manolo’s drum

For Spain, the victory extended an unbeaten run to 34 matches under coach Luis de la Fuente, who praised his players’ resilience in a physically demanding encounter. They will face the Group J runner-up – Austria or Algeria – in Inglewood, California on Thursday.

The win also carried an emotional note for Spanish supporters. It was the first World Cup since the death of Manuel Cáceres, the drum-pounding superfan known as Manolo el del Bombo, who died in May 2025 at age 76. In Guadalajara, fan groups brought their own drum to continue his legacy. “People see us in the streets and call us ‘Manolo,’” said Sete Fernández of Marea Roja. “That’s a good sign that Manolo’s symbol lives on.”