World Cup
Alex Baena's half‑time strike precedes Uruguay's chaotic second half
Spain secured a 1‑0 victory over Uruguay in their final group match of the 2026 World Cup, with Alex Baena scoring the only goal shortly before the break. The match, staged under Luis de la Fuente for Spain and Marcelo Bielsa for Uruguay, was marked by hard tackles and a red card in a turbulent second half.
Uruguay’s frustration boiled over as Agustín Canobbio received a straight red card for a violent tackle on Pau Cubarsi. The referee’s decision came after a series of aggressive challenges that turned the game into a melee rather than a football contest.
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, playing his fifth World Cup at age forty, was substituted at halftime following the conceded goal. In the 55th minute, Bielsa also withdrew captain Federico Valverde, who had previously confronted the coach alongside Manuel Ugarte and Rodrigo Bentancur over training methods.
Valverde refused eye contact with Bielsa during the substitution and broke down in tears shortly afterwards. His emotional response highlighted the internal tension within the Uruguayan camp after the coach’s pre‑match 48‑minute speech accusing players of being out of work.
With the loss, Uruguay slipped to the bottom of Group B and must rely on a best‑third‑place ranking to advance. The odds of qualifying as one of the top three third‑placed teams are described as very small.
Spain has already secured a place in the round of 16 and will face the runner‑up of Group J, a slot most likely to be filled by Austria. Luis de la Fuente’s side can now focus on preparing for that knockout encounter without the pressure of the group stage.
A hard challenge on Spain’s Lamine Yamal earned a yellow card for a Uruguayan defender, adding to the disciplinary tally. Later, the VAR reviewed a clash between Uruguay’s Vinas and Spain’s Mikel Olmo, but the referee upheld the original decision.