Spain’s Alex Baena, left, is congratulated after scoring his side’s opening goal by Rodri during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (23) is beaten by a shot from Spain’s Alex Baena (15) for the opining goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) controls the ball against Uruguay’s Mathias Olivera (16), Rodrigo Bentancur (6) and Manuel Ugarte (5) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)Spain’s Aymeric Laporte (14) battles for the ball with Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez (9) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)Spain’s Pedri, top, and Uruguay’s Sebastian Caceres vie for the ball during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Spain’s Alex Baena, left, is congratulated after scoring his side’s opening goal by Rodri during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
GUADALAJARA – Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 after another goalkeeping mistake by Fernando Muslera to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup and eliminate the South American powerhouse on Friday.
Uruguay, a two-time champion, will go home without any victories in its three Group H games. Spain, the European champion, won the group with seven points and will face the second-place team from Group J — either Austria or Algeria — on Thursday in Inglewood, California.
Álex Baena scored in the 42nd minute after Muslera couldn’t fully swat away his shot from inside the area. It was the third blunder of the tournament by the 40-year-old Muslera, who was pulled at halftime by coach Marcelo Bielsa.
At 19th in the FIFA rankings, Uruguay is the highest-ranked team to be eliminated so far.
___
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.