Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Uruguay in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H clash at Zapopan, Mexico, marking their first ever World Cup win against the South American side. Head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed immense pride in his squad, highlighting their unity, discipline, and ability to handle high-pressure moments.
First World Cup win against Uruguay
This victory is Spain's first against Uruguay in World Cup history; the previous two encounters ended in draws. The winning goal came just before half-time when Alex Baena converted a low cross from Marcos Llorente, slipping the ball past Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Baena was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution.
De la Fuente praises team spirit
Speaking after the match, de la Fuente said: "Every day, I am prouder of this team. This family surprises me time and again with its competitiveness and solidarity. We have achieved something very difficult and what awaits us will be even more so. Now it's time to rest." He emphasized the squad's versatility, stating: "The great wealth of this team is that all the players can contribute something more or something different. All the footballers are capable of adapting to the needs of the game and the group."
Composure under pressure
Reflecting on the match, de la Fuente praised his side's composure in a high-intensity contest: "We have risen to the occasion in a match of the highest demand, with a lot of toughness, and we haven't fallen into provocations. The assessment of the match is very favourable. We have done what we had to do. I'm happy." Spain dominated possession throughout and maintained discipline despite Uruguay's physical approach.
Match details and group standings
Uruguay replaced Muslera with Sergio Rochet at half-time in an attempt to recover. In the second half, Uruguay pushed hard but Spain's controlled passing kept them at bay. Ferran Torres nearly doubled the lead late on, striking the crossbar. The match ended sourly for Uruguay as Canobbio received a red card for a late challenge on Pau Cubarsi. In Group H standings, Spain finished with two wins and one draw (7 points), while Uruguay ended with zero wins, two losses, and one draw (1 point). Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia also finished with one point each.
