Uruguay eliminated at 2026 World Cup group stage as Bielsa’s side wins just 2 points

Uruguay were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 26 after finishing third in Group H, their earliest exit since 2002. Marcelo Bielsa’s side never built momentum, collecting only 2 points from three matches: one loss and two draws. They scored 3 goals and conceded 4, ending with a goal difference of -1. In Group H, Uruguay were drawn with Spain, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia. The campaign ended with a 0-1 defeat to Spain, a result that confirmed what the standings already suggested: Uruguay had not done enough to qualify. The key contrast came from Cape Verde. The debutants drew all three group matches and advanced to the knockout stage in second place with 3 points—marking Cape Verde’s first ever World Cup appearance and the first time they progressed from the group stage on debut. Uruguay, a two-time World Cup champion with a long football tradition, were knocked out by the same points tally (3 points) that a first-time qualifier earned through draws. Uruguay’s path to the 2026 World Cup was also difficult. They qualified by finishing fourth in CONMEBOL, then secured their spot with a 3-0 win over Peru on September 4, 2025. The tournament expands to 48 teams and is co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.