Uruguay failed to secure a win in their group, which included Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, and their World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat by Spain in Guadalajara. The loss was sealed by a critical error from 40-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was substituted at half-time after putting the ball into his own net on Alex Baena’s 43rd-minute goal, according to Kronen Zeitung.

Coach Bielsa resigns after unproductive tenure

Bielsa, 70, who took over in 2023, admitted his time managing Uruguay left little to no legacy — “I have not left anything to Uruguayan football,” he said, as reported by The Guardian. “A coach who has been in a country for three years and not got results cannot say he has made a contribution; Fourth place in the qualifiers has no value and nor does third at the Copa América.”

Bielsa’s tenure was marked by a poor relationship with the players, with some reports indicating a squad revolt after initial draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. The coach also lost his temper with a reporter post-match, in a clip that went viral on social media, according to the Jefferson City News Tribune.

Saudi Arabia’s unbeatable run continues

Saudi Arabia. Ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings. Continued its impressive performance against South American teams by drawing 1-1 with Uruguay, who are ranked 16th, according to 경향신문. The draw extended Asia’s unbeaten streak in World Cup matches against South American nations, echoing their 2-1 win over Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

In the same group. Cape Verde and Spain drew 0-0 in their opening match, according to 경향신문. That meant all four teams in Group H entered the second round with just one point each, setting the stage for a dramatic final group game.

Bielsa’s legacy and Uruguay’s form

Bielsa, who previously managed Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010, failed to progress from the group stage in two of his three World Cup campaigns, according to FotMob. His only successful group-stage campaign was with Chile in 2010; Uruguay’s failure in the 2026 World Cup adds to a run of seven games without a win, including a 5-1 loss to the United States.

Bielsa took responsibility for Uruguay’s performance, saying, “I am responsible for all the disappointment because of the job I did.” He also noted that the team’s tactical approach was not the issue, saying, “The tactical development of the match wasn’t decisive,” according to the Jefferson City News Tribune.

Muslera’s error was not the only issue; Uruguay struggled to create chances throughout the tournament, though Bentancur’s long-range shot and a clearance by Spain’s Aymeric Laporte were among the few notable moments, according to Kronen Zeitung.

Spain will face the second-place team from Group J,either Austria or Algeria—in the round of 32, having secured first place in Group H. The European champions were expected to dominate and did so, sealing a 1-0 win over Uruguay, marking an early exit for a two-time World Cup champion.