Spain Edge Uruguay 1-0 to Win Group, Two-Time Champions Exit World Cup

Spain secured top spot in their World Cup group with a narrow 1-0 win over Uruguay , capitalising on yet another costly mistake by veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera , which ultimately ended the South American side’s campaign in disappointment on Friday.

The result saw Uruguay, the two-time world champions , bow out of the tournament without a single win from their three Group H matches, marking a bitter exit for one of football’s traditional heavyweights.

Spain, the reigning European champions, finished the group stage with seven points , confirming their dominance and booking a place in the knockout round, where they will face the runner-up from Group J, either Austria or Algeria , in Inglewood, California on Thursday.

The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute , when Álex Baena found the net after Muslera failed to properly deal with a shot from inside the penalty area. The experienced goalkeeper, 40, who has endured a difficult tournament, was once again at fault and was substituted at half-time by coach Marcelo Bielsa .

It was Muslera’s third notable error of the tournament , compounding Uruguay’s struggles and sealing their fate in Group H.

Despite entering the competition ranked 19th in the FIFA rankings , Uruguay finished as the highest-ranked team to be eliminated so far, underlining the scale of their underperformance.

Spain, meanwhile, continued their composed and efficient campaign, advancing with confidence as they chase further glory on the world stage.