Uruguay 0-1 Spain Stats: Baena Seals Top Spot in Group H and Eliminates Bielsa's Side
Opta Analyst • • sports
Key Points:
- Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their final Group H match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Álex Baena scoring the decisive goal, ensuring Spain topped the group and advanced to the knockout stages.
- Cape Verde joined Spain in the knockouts by finishing second in Group H after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia, leading to Uruguay's elimination at the group stage.
- Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera made three errors leading to goals in the tournament, a first since 1966, and was substituted at halftime, marking a rare goalkeeper change in World Cup history.
- Spain's defense was notably strong throughout the group stage, conceding no goals and facing very few shots on target, becoming only the second team since 1966 to maintain such defensive consistency over five consecutive World Cup matches.
- Spain will face the runner-up of Group J, currently Austria, in the knockout round, while Uruguay's exit continued Marcelo Bielsa's record of failing to progress past the group stage in two of his three World Cup campaigns.
