Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Bielsa faces mutiny claims

Uruguay’s World Cup ended in Guadalajara, Mexico, when Spain beat Marcelo Bielsa’s side 1-0 and sent them out with two points from three Group H matches. The defeat left Uruguay third in the group after draws with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, and made them the only CONMEBOL team not to reach the knockout rounds.

Fernando Muslera’s error helped shape the night and the exit quickly became bigger than one mistake. The build-up to the Spain match had already been dominated by complaints over Bielsa’s punishing training sessions and tactical demands, with parts of the squad wanting a deeper defensive block and a counterattacking plan instead.

Bielsa did not hide from the result. After the match he said Uruguay had been short-changed by their own finishing and luck, adding, “We deserved to get seven points and got two.” He also accepted that criticism would follow, and then took full responsibility for a campaign that ended without a victory.

Bielsa took charge of Uruguay in 2023 after Diego Alonso left and led the side to third place at the 2024 Copa America. His previous tournaments as a coach ended with Argentina’s group-stage exit in 2002 and Chile’s last-16 defeat by Brazil in 2014. Uruguay arrived as a two-time world champion, having lifted the trophy in 1930 and 1950, and this was their 15th World Cup and their fifth straight appearance since returning in 2010. Bielsa had already indicated before the tournament that his time with Uruguay would end after it.