Spain Advances in FIFA World Cup 2026 After Defeating Uruguay

In a pivotal match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Spain triumphed over Uruguay, eliminating them from the tournament. Alex Baena's first-half goal secured Spain's top position in Group H, marking their first victory against Uruguay in World Cup history. With this win, Spain advances to the Round of 32, aiming for further success. The match also saw Uruguay's goalkeeper replaced after a critical error and a late red card for Agustin Canobbio, highlighting a challenging tournament for the South American side. Discover more about this thrilling encounter and its implications for both teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 27, 2026, 08:46 IST

Spain Secures Victory Over Uruguay

Zapopan, Mexico - On June 27, Uruguay faced elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the group stage, following a crucial goal by Alex Baena in the 42nd minute, which allowed Spain to clinch the top position in Group H.

With this win, Spain is set to compete against the runners-up from Group J in the Round of 32, scheduled for July 2 in Los Angeles. This match marked Spain's first-ever victory against Uruguay in World Cup history, as their previous encounters had ended in draws. Alex Baena was honored as the Player of the Match for his performance.

According to statistics from OptaJose X, this is the first instance in World Cup history where Spain completed the group stage without conceding a single goal.

The match concluded on a disappointing note for Marcelo Bielsa's team, which had to substitute goalkeeper Fernando Muslera at halftime due to an error that led to Baena's goal. Uruguay's situation worsened in injury time when Agustin Canobbio received a red card.

Spain maintained control for most of the match, breaking the deadlock just before halftime when Baena connected with a low cross from Marcos Llorente, sending the ball past Muslera into the net.

Sergio Rochet took over as goalkeeper for Uruguay in the second half as they sought to recover from the setback. Despite their efforts, Spain's composed passing and strategy kept Uruguay from finding the net. Ferran Torres nearly extended Spain's lead but hit the crossbar late in the game.

The match concluded with Uruguay's Canobbio receiving a red card for a late challenge on Pau Cubarsi, capping off a challenging tournament for the South American team.

In the final standings of Group H, Spain finished with two wins, one draw, and no losses across three matches. Cabo Verde ended with three draws and no wins, while Uruguay and Saudi Arabia both recorded no wins, with Uruguay having two losses and one draw.