Uruguay’s 2026 World Cup ended in the group stage. They played their three fixtures on 15, 21 and 26 June, drawing twice and losing once in Group H.
La Celeste shared the group with Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain. This guide recaps every fixture, the final scores and the standings that confirmed Uruguay’s exit before the round of 32.
Uruguay’s 2026 World Cup group-stage results
Uruguay drew twice and lost once across their three Group H matches, finishing with two points and missing out on the knockout rounds entirely.
| Fixture | Date | Venue | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | Mon 15 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 1–1 |
| Uruguay vs Cape Verde | Sun 21 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 2–2 |
| Uruguay vs Spain | Fri 26 Jun | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (Zapopan) | 0–1 |
Here is how each match unfolded:
- Saudi Arabia 1–1 Uruguay: Abdulelah Al-Amri put Saudi Arabia ahead in the 41st minute, before Maximiliano Araújo equalised for Uruguay in the 80th to deny Saudi Arabia a famous win.
- Uruguay 2–2 Cape Verde: Araújo (44′) and AgustÃn Canobbio (45+6′) put Uruguay 2–1 up either side of half-time, but Cape Verde hit back through Kevin Pina (21′) and Helio Varela (61′) to snatch a draw.
- Uruguay 0–1 Spain: Alex Baena’s 42nd-minute effort squirmed through goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and over the line, handing Spain top spot in the group and confirming Uruguay’s elimination.
Final Group H standings and Uruguay’s elimination
Uruguay finished third in Group H on two points, level with fourth-placed Saudi Arabia but ahead of them on goal difference.
| Pos | Team | W-D-L | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 2-1-0 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 | Cape Verde | 0-3-0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 0-2-1 | −1 | 2 |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 0-2-1 | −4 | 2 |
Spain, the reigning European champions, won the group unbeaten with five goals scored and none conceded. Cape Verde took the second automatic spot by drawing all three of their matches, reaching the knockout stage on their World Cup debut.
Uruguay’s two points and −1 goal difference made it mathematically impossible for them to finish among the eight best third-placed teams that filled the remaining round-of-32 places. That confirmed their elimination the moment Spain’s win in Guadalajara was final, making two-time champions Uruguay the highest-ranked team to exit the tournament at the group stage.
Where Uruguay played
Uruguay’s group campaign was split between two host cities. Their opening two matches were played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, while the decisive Spain match took place at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara (Zapopan), Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Uruguay do in the 2026 World Cup group stage?
Uruguay finished third in Group H with two points from three matches. They drew 1–1 with Saudi Arabia and 2–2 with Cape Verde, then lost 0–1 to Spain in their final group game.
Why didn’t Uruguay advance to the knockout rounds?
Uruguay’s two points and negative goal difference ruled them out of both automatic qualification and the best-third-place route. Cape Verde took the second automatic spot from Group H by finishing unbeaten on three points, while Uruguay’s −1 goal difference left them short of the cutoff for the eight best third-placed teams.
Who did Uruguay play in their group?
Uruguay were drawn in Group H with Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain. Spain won the group unbeaten, while Cape Verde reached the knockout stage on their World Cup debut.
What was Uruguay’s final group standing?
Uruguay finished third in Group H, one place and one point outside qualification. They ended level on points with fourth-placed Saudi Arabia but ahead of them on goal difference, −1 to −4.
Sources
- FIFA — Uruguay v Spain: Match report and highlights
- FIFA — Uruguay v Cabo Verde: Match report and highlights
- FIFA Match Centre — Saudi Arabia v Uruguay result
- ESPN — Uruguay 0-1 Spain: Final Score (Jun 26, 2026)
- ESPN — World Cup 2026: Which teams have been eliminated?
- Sky Sports — World Cup 2026: Uruguay 0-1 Spain, Alex Baena goal after Fernando Muslera error sends Marcelo Bielsa’s team out
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