Spain eliminates Uruguay, wins Group H and advances

Spain eliminates – Spain closed out Group H with a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Friday, June 26 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. Álex Baena scored in the first half as Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera made an error that left him hooked at halftime. A red card for Agustín Canobbio n

Spain didn’t just beat Uruguay on Friday night at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara—it finished the job with a cold. decisive margin that felt earned by the way the match swung. Álex Baena scored the lone goal in the first half. and by the time the tournament’s final tensions spilled onto the pitch. Uruguay’s night had turned into damage control.

The result crowned Spain the king of Group H in the 2026 World Cup and eliminated Uruguay from the tournament. Spain now advances to the World Cup round of 32.

Baena’s strike came early in the first half. with the ball slowly bouncing into the corner of the net as Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera couldn’t reach it in time. Muslera would later be hooked at the mid-match break after allowing that goal. and Spain’s lead held for the rest of the group finale.

Uruguay’s effort had several moments, but each one met resistance—or a misstep that delayed progress. Darwin Núñez nearly created another opening with a quick strike. yet Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was ready and dove to make the save. Earlier in the match. Rodney Bentancur also pushed toward a breakthrough. lashing a chance toward the net that flew just above the crossbar.

There were also injury worries that shaped the flow. Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte was stretchered off in the first half after stepping awkwardly. with the nature of his injury unknown at the time and Uruguay’s medical staff expected to evaluate him after the match. Later. Uruguay captain Federico Valverde was substituted off in the second half and replaced by Federico Vinas. visibly frustrated while walking toward the sideline.

Spain’s momentum never fully disappeared. Lamine Yamal nearly contributed again after dribbling down the right side. tossing a pass to Dani Olmo waiting in front of the net. but Olmo’s shot flew just to the right of the goal. Yamal was subbed out midway through the second half along with Mikel Oyarzabal; Ferran Torres and Nico Williams replaced them. Pedri. one of Spain’s biggest stars. was also taken out in the second half. with Fabián Ruiz—who recently won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain—coming on as the substitution.

As Spain pushed forward, tempers began to heat up. Guillermo Varela was handed a yellow card for elbowing Álex Baena in the face as the players ran alongside each other. Juan Manuel Sanabria was given a yellow card for a play against Lamine Yamal. sliding in what appeared to be an attempt to knock the ball away but instead tripping Yamal and leading to a penalty call. Álex Baena. who scored Spain’s lone goal so far. was also booked with the yellow card after running into Agustín Canobbio. who had the ball.

The match’s final twist came with discipline and escalation. Agustín Canobbio was handed a red card toward the end and was ejected. The red card came after he was penalized for sliding into Pau Cubarsí while he was kicking the ball and knocking him to the pitch. Canobbio argued with the official even after reaching the sidelines, and his teammates had to hold him back.

Before the red card, tensions were already visibly building. Nicolás de la Cruz received a yellow card for an aggressive play in which he tripped Nico Williams. Toward the end. tensions swelled: Canobbio ran up to defend his teammate. pushed Williams. and the two chirped at each other while the referee separated a growing group of players involved in the tussle.

The match also carried off-field weight. Before kickoff, both teams’ starting XI stood on the pitch and held a moment of silence for Venezuela, where more than 900 people died after two earthquakes hit Venezuela days prior to the match.

Group H’s end was determined not only by Spain’s win but by Uruguay’s wider fate in the standings. Uruguay was eliminated after losing to Spain. while Cape Verde advanced to the round of 32 as well after holding all three group opponents to draws. including a draw against Saudi Arabia in the final match.

Uruguay’s history made the exit sting. Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950 and has yet to return to glory. It entered the tournament ranked as the No. 16 team and became the highest-ranked side to be eliminated.

Spain, meanwhile, is building on recent momentum that includes hoisting the World Cup trophy in 2010 and winning the European championship in 2024. With Spain up 1-0 at halftime, its path kept moving: the journey continues into the knockout stage.

The sequence of events inside the match made the outcome feel hard to undo—Spain scored first through Álex Baena, Muslera’s mistake flipped the halftime narrative, and late-game discipline stripped Uruguay of what little momentum remained.

As for the broader tournament setup, the match’s setting added another layer. Spain and Uruguay kicked off at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, where the stadium sits at 5,138 feet above sea level—elevation known for thinner air that can challenge teams not acclimated to altitude.

Uruguay’s World Cup journey under Marcelo Bielsa was also defined by change. Bielsa. managing Uruguay in his third World Cup with a third different national team. had experience including Olympique Marseille. Lille. and Leeds. Uruguay signed him in 2023. Spain is led by Luis de la Fuente. who won the European championship in 2024 and has had only three losses at the helm of La Roja since signing in 2022. including a defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in penalty kicks for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final.

Spain’s next chapter begins after a group finale that ended with Uruguay’s exit—sealed by a goal in the first half, shaken by a second-half lineup shift, and finished with a late red card that turned the ending into something definitive.

Spain vs Uruguay 2026 World Cup Group H Álex Baena Fernando Muslera Agustín Canobbio Federico Valverde Lamine Yamal FIFA World Cup round of 32