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)<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n
GUADALAJARA \u2013 Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 after another goalkeeping mistake by Fernando Muslera to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup<\/a> and eliminate the South American powerhouse on Friday.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 either Austria or Algeria \u2014 on Thursday in Inglewood, California.<\/p>\n \u00c1lex Baena scored in the 42nd minute after Muslera couldn\u2019t fully swat away his shot<\/a> from inside the area. It was the third blunder of the tournament by the 40-year-old Muslera, who was pulled at halftime<\/a> by coach Marcelo Bielsa.<\/p>\n At 19th in the FIFA rankings, Uruguay is the highest-ranked team to be eliminated so far.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n