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Group H

Uruguay World Cup 2026 Group H Exit and Results

Uruguay's Group H route closed with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Guadalajara. Marcelo Bielsa's side drew Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde in Miami, but two points left La Celeste third and below the final third-place cut line.

Uruguay finished third in Group H on two points after drawing Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde, then losing 1-0 to Spain.

Checked after the June 27 Group H final window. Uruguay finished third on two points, while Spain won Group H and Cabo Verde finished second.

Current World Cup 2026 status

Uruguay World Cup 2026 status

A quick route into the live table, latest result, and next group-stage match.

StatusEliminated - third in Group HUruguay finished third but fell outside the final best-third-place cut line.See cut line
Group position3rd in Group H2 pts · 0W-2D-1L · 3-4 goals · GD -1Open group table
Latest resultUruguay 0-1 SpainJune 26, 2026 · Guadalajara Stadium (Guadalajara)Open match recap
Next stepEliminated teamsFollow the full list of teams whose 2026 finals route has ended.See cut line

Group facts

Group

Group H

Confederation

CONMEBOL

Opponents

Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia

First match

June 15, 2026

Last match

June 26, 2026

Full section: All teams

Uruguay's Group H route ends from third place

Uruguay entered a 15th World Cup and a fifth straight finals appearance with historical weight and modern continuity. The group stage did not turn that continuity into a route: 1-1 against Saudi Arabia, 2-2 against Cabo Verde and 0-1 against Spain.

Two points were not enough in the expanded format once eight other third-place teams had already built stronger records. Uruguay's page now reads as a completed Group H record rather than a live route.

Player hub: Browse the current player directory

Quick team snapshot

The early shape of Uruguay's route is simple: Miami for the opener and second match, then Guadalajara to close the section.

  • Opening match: June 15, 2026 against Saudi Arabia in Miami.
  • Miami hosts the opener and the second match before the route shifts to Guadalajara.
  • Closing match: June 26, 2026 against Spain in Guadalajara.
  • Group-stage window: 11 days from the opener to the closer.

Why the Spain closer closed the route

The two Miami draws left Uruguay needing the Spain match to change the table. Instead, the 1-0 defeat in Guadalajara left them on two points, behind Spain and Cabo Verde.

The final Group H read is stark: Spain won the group on seven points, Cabo Verde finished second with three draws, and Uruguay's third-place total finished below the Round of 32 cut line.

Coach and outlook

FIFA's Uruguay profile says Marcelo Bielsa is leading a new-look squad after the retirement of key figures from the recent golden generation. Federico Valverde and the next wave of players now have to carry a more direct, high-energy version of La Celeste.

That makes the coaching story sharper after elimination. Uruguay still made opponents work, but the Group H record shows the gap between making matches uncomfortable and turning pressure into enough points.

Squad update

FIFA's Uruguay profile already frames this as Marcelo Bielsa's squad, but the formal tournament list still only becomes official on June 2, 2026.

The broader cycle story now turns into a review of a new-look squad built around Federico Valverde and a coach whose style created pressure but not enough Group H points.

World Cup record

Appearances

15th finals

Best finish

Champions in 1930, 1950

Last World Cup

Group stage in 2022

Current run

Five straight qualifications

Uruguay's 15th World Cup and fifth straight finals appearance ended in the group stage after two draws and a final defeat to Spain.

Uruguay Group H result questions

Quick answers on Bielsa, Uruguay's Group H finish, the Spain result and why two points were not enough.

Who is coaching Uruguay at World Cup 2026?

Marcelo Bielsa is coaching Uruguay, and FIFA's profile says he is leading La Celeste into a new tournament cycle after guiding the side through qualification.

How many World Cups has Uruguay played?

Uruguay are set for a 15th men's World Cup and a fifth straight finals appearance.

What is Uruguay's best World Cup finish?

Uruguay have won the men's World Cup twice, in 1930 and 1950.

Where did Uruguay finish in Group H?

Uruguay finished third in Group H on two points after drawing Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde, then losing 1-0 to Spain.