Álex Baena’s first-half strike slipped through Fernando Muslera’s hands as Spain secured top spot in Group H, while Uruguay exited the tournament without a win
Spain secured top spot in Group H with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay at the Guadalajara Stadium on Friday, as a costly goalkeeping blunder from veteran Fernando Muslera proved decisive.
The match-winner came in the 41st minute. Marcos Llorente drove forward and crossed to Álex Baena, whose low shot slipped through the hands of Muslera and into the net. Following his high-profile mistake, Muslera requested to be substituted at halftime and was replaced by Sergio Rochet.
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Uruguay’s night went from bad to worse. Midfielder Manuel Ugarte suffered a severe knee injury in the 44th minute and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. Deep into stoppage time, Agustín Canobbio caught Marc Cucurella with a desperate studs-up challenge, earning a straight red card.
Spain dominated possession with 68 percent and registered five shots, two on target, while Uruguay managed six shots, one on target. Spanish passing accuracy stood at 91 percent compared to Uruguay’s 78 percent.
With this result, Uruguay extended their historical drought against Spain, having never beaten La Roja in a competitive match over 76 years. The two-time World Cup winners exited the group stage in back-to-back tournaments without winning a single game.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Spain topped Group H with seven points and kept a clean sheet in all three group matches. They will face the runner-up of Group J in the Round of 32 in Inglewood, California.
Before Kickoff
Venue and Kickoff Time
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- Stadium: Estadio Akron Guadalajara Stadium (Guadalajara, Mexico)
- Kickoff: 00:00 GMT
⚽ Pre-Match Analysis
📋 Predicted Lineups
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- Uruguay Starting XI: Rochet; Nández, R. Araújo, Giménez, Olivera; Valverde, Ugarte, De la Cruz; Pellistri, D. Núñez, M. Araújo.
- Spain Starting XI: Raya; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams; Morata.
📊 Match Facts and Head-to-Head (H2H)
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- H2H Record: Spain defeated Uruguay 2-1 in their last major competitive fixture at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
- Key Fact: Spain has controlled over 65% of active ball possession in both of their tournament games.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
