Preview: Uruguay vs Spain – Latest News, Lineups, Absences | 2026 World Cup (06/27/2026)
Spain will battle Uruguay for the top spot in the group at Akron Stadium in Zapopan (Mexico). On paper, this was the toughest match of the group stage, and it comes at the decisive moment. Luis De La Fuente’s side wants to finish the job and avoid any scares.
Finishing first would, in theory, provide a much more favorable path in the Round of 32 and Round of 16. Standing in their way is a Uruguay side with its back against the wall, fighting to stay alive in the 2026 World Cup, so they will not make things easy for Spain.
Latest news: how the teams arrive
The Spanish national team has collected four points against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Marcelo Bielsa’s side, meanwhile, has only managed draws against both teams, which before the tournament were considered two of the weakest sides in the World Cup.
Uruguay
Uruguay has been one of the disappointments of the 2026 World Cup. La Celeste has failed to beat either Saudi Arabia in their opening match or Cape Verde in the second round. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have lacked efficiency in both penalty areas, and that has severely punished them. In their opener, they fired 24 shots against the Asians but scored only once; against the Africans, they dropped two points due to a defensive mistake unworthy of elite football. Now they put everything on the line against the reigning European champions.
Spain
Luis De La Fuente’s side, meanwhile, began their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. However, in their second match, with Lamine Yamal in the starting lineup, Spain looked like themselves again and completely outclassed Saudi Arabia, making the footballing gap between the two sides clear. They now head into this final group-stage match knowing that a draw is enough to secure first place and a more favorable Round of 32 matchup.
Uruguay vs Spain: previous meetings
Of the last five meetings between Uruguay and Spain, four were friendlies. Only the most recent one was an official match. It took place in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and since then Uruguay and Spain have not faced each other. It is worth noting that Spain won four of those five meetings, including the official one, while the other ended in a draw.
- (04/09/1991) Spain 2-1 Uruguay
- (18/01/1995) Spain 2-2 Uruguay
- (17/08/2005) Spain 2-0 Uruguay
- (06/02/2013) Spain 3-1 Uruguay
- (17/06/2013) Spain 2-1 Uruguay
Predicted lineups
No major changes are expected compared to the lineups used by either coach. In fact, Luis De La Fuente is very likely to repeat the starting XI that defeated Saudi Arabia. Marcelo Bielsa, for his part, is not expected to make any major changes.
| Position |  –Uruguay |  –Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Muslera | Unai Simón |
| Defenders |
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| Midfielders |
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| Forwards |
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Tactical analysis: Spain in control
This match is a final for Uruguay. If they lose, they will be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, and if they draw, they will have to wait for results in the other groups, as three draws would leave them in third place. Therefore, a very aggressive Uruguay is expected, pressing intensely and using man-to-man marking. That is Marcelo Bielsa’s trademark, and he will stick with it until the very end.
Spain, meanwhile, will look to control the match through possession. Against Saudi Arabia, they combined possession with vertical attacking football very effectively. Against Uruguay, the key will be seeing how they overcome Uruguay’s man-oriented pressing. If Luis De La Fuente’s side succeeds, they will create plenty of scoring opportunities; if not, they could struggle against Uruguay’s aggression.
Key players to watch
The standout players for each side in this match will be Fede Valverde for Uruguay and Lamine Yamal for Spain.
Fede Valverde – Uruguay
Like his national team, the Real Madrid midfielder has not shone at the 2026 World Cup. He is Uruguay’s complete player, covering huge distances and offering quality in the final third. In addition, his long-range shooting is among the best in the world. If Uruguay is to continue in the World Cup, Fede Valverde will need to perform at his highest level.
Lamine Yamal – Spain
As for Lamine Yamal, it was already evident against Saudi Arabia what he brings to the team. He only played the first half, but that was enough time to open the scoring and constantly create dangerous situations. With him on the pitch, Spain will have a reliable option for breaking through the man-marking system that Marcelo Bielsa is expected to employ. In this match, he is expected to play at least an hour. And if Luis De La Fuente feels Spain is under pressure, he could play the full match.
Market analysis and odds
Spain enters this match as the favorite. Against Saudi Arabia, the reigning European champions showed exactly what they are capable of. Uruguay, meanwhile, has not been performing at the expected level, which has strengthened the bookmakers’ confidence in Spain.
Both teams possess high-quality attacking players, and Uruguay’s style naturally creates end-to-end football. Odds for over 2.5 goals range between 1.83 and 1.88.
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Final prediction
Spain has the edge based on current form, quality, and recent head-to-head history. Uruguay is forced to take risks from the very beginning, which could leave spaces for Luis De La Fuente’s side to exploit with the pace of Lamine Yamal and the movement of their attacking players.
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