Uruguay bowed out of the 2026 World Cup after a 1‑0 loss to Spain in Guadalajara. Alex Baena’s late first‑half shot slipped past veteran keeper Fernando Muslera, who pushed the ball into his own net. Bielsa replaced Muslera at half‑time, but the error‑laden performance sealed Uruguay’s exit.

Captain Fede Valverde was wounded before the hour mark, and Uruguay’s campaign unraveled further when Agustín Canobbio received a red card after a desperate lunge on Pau Cubarsi. Spain, though uneven, finished top of Group H, while Cape Verde secured the second spot to advance ahead of a playoff.

With Spain set to face Group J runners‑up Austria in Los Angeles on July 2, the result confirms their progression but leaves their form uncertain. Uruguay’s single point leaves them out of the third‑place spot, and Bielsa’s tenure appears doomed after a season marred by mistakes and disciplinary lapses.