Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa accepted full responsibility for his side’s early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 1-0 defeat to Spain saw the two-time champions finish third in Group H.
Bielsa admitted he failed to get the best from his talented squad and said he could not transform their individual quality into a cohesive team. He also defended his decision to substitute captain Federico Valverde while chasing an equaliser, explaining it was aimed at adding attacking threat. Bielsa revealed goalkeeper Fernando Muslera requested to be substituted at halftime after conceding the decisive goal and urged fans not to judge the veteran harshly.
Uruguay exited with just two points, while Spain and Cape Verde progressed to the Round of 32.