Spain secured top spot in Group H after edging past Uruguay 1-0 in their final group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Álex Baena scored the only goal of the game as La Roja booked their place in the Round of 32.

The defeat ended Uruguay's World Cup campaign after Cape Verde's goalless draw against Saudi Arabia helped the tournament debutants finish second in the group.

Spain will now face the runners-up from Group J in the knockout stage on July 2. Austria currently occupy that position ahead of their final group match against Algeria.

Spain Miss Early Chance

Spain nearly made the perfect start inside the opening two minutes. A loose pass from Rodrigo Bentancur gifted possession to Spain. Lamine Yamal quickly found Mikel Oyarzabal, whose cross towards Mikel Merino was intercepted by Sebastian Caceres before Spain could create a clear chance.

After that early opportunity, Spain struggled to find their rhythm. Uruguay defended well, with Juan Manuel Sanabria doing an excellent job of keeping Yamal quiet. At the other end, Darwin Nunez almost created danger but failed to connect with an ambitious backheel attempt.

Baena Gives Spain the Lead

Rodrigo Bentancur later tested Unai Simon with a long-range effort, but Spain finally broke the deadlock just before halftime. Fernando Muslera made a costly mistake while dealing with Marcos Llorente's cross. Álex Baena controlled the ball before firing a shot that slipped through the goalkeeper's hands and into the net.

The goal handed Spain a valuable 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

Uruguay Fail to Respond

Uruguay made a goalkeeper change at halftime, replacing Muslera with Sergio Rochet. It marked the first time Uruguay had substituted a goalkeeper during a World Cup match since substitutions were introduced in 1970. However, the change failed to improve their performance.

Spain continued to control the game and almost doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark. Dani Olmo, who had come off the bench, failed to convert after a good pass from Lamine Yamal.

Mathias Olivera also nearly surprised Unai Simon with an awkward cross that almost found its way into the net. Late in the match, Ferran Torres came close to sealing the victory, but his shot crashed against the crossbar after beating Olivera. Uruguay's difficult evening became even worse in stoppage time when Agustin Canobbio received a straight red card for a high challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

Spain's Defence Delivers Again

Spain entered the tournament with one of the strongest attacking line-ups, led by teenage star Lamine Yamal. However, against Uruguay, it was their disciplined defence that made the difference. Spain allowed very few chances throughout the match and continued their impressive defensive record at the tournament.

Across their last four World Cup matches, La Roja have faced only 26 shots. They also became just the second team since 1966 to allow six or fewer attempts in five consecutive World Cup matches, matching Argentina's achievement during their 2022 title-winning campaign. Spain also became the first team at this World Cup not to face a single shot on target during the first half of all three group-stage matches.

Muslera's Difficult Farewell

The match proved to be another disappointing outing for veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. After coming out of international retirement to play in the tournament, Muslera endured another costly mistake that led directly to a goal. He became the first goalkeeper since 1966 to commit three errors leading to goals in a single World Cup edition.

Spain eventually held on for a narrow but deserved victory. They created six shots with an expected goals (xG) value of 0.86, while Uruguay managed only five attempts with an xG of 0.20. The win sent Spain confidently into the knockout stage as Group H winners, while Uruguay exited the tournament at the group stage.