Uruguay vs Spain Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
by The Stats Zone ·
Updated
We have a crucial encounter in Group H in Guadalajara as Uruguay bid for the knockout stages with a clash against European champions Spain, who are in a fight for top spot.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Uruguay preview: A bit of a mess
Opting for the unusual tactic of not playing any pre-tournament friendlies, Marcelo Bielsa has come under criticism from the Uruguayan press and legendary striker Luis Suarez, with reports suggesting the former Leeds United boss has a poor relationship with his squad and that is bleeding onto the pitch.
Uruguay's disjointed tournament began with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, fighting back in the second half to earn that point, before a 2-2 draw with Cabo Verde in a game in which they were again slightly the better side and had to come from a goal down but again largely underwhelmed and failed to convince.
Spain preview: Finding form
Luis de la Fuente dealt with his own criticism after Spain began their FIFA World Cup campaign in underwhelming fashion with a goalless draw with Cabo Verde in Atlanta, where star man Lamine Yamal was only able to be introduced after the second-half hydration break on his comeback from injury.
The Barcelona winger started against the Saudi Arabians in their second game, though, and he got La Roja up-and-running in a 4-0 rout with UEFA EURO 2024 final match-winner Mikel Oyarzabal, who failed to touch the ball for half an hour against Cabo Verde, getting a brace as well as an assist as Spain raced into a 3-0 lead before the first-half hydration break.
Uruguay team news: Under pressure
One of the things that has been used against Bielsa is the amount of injuries that Uruguay have had with Ronald Araujo and Jose Maria Gimenez both having not been fit enough to play in their opening couple of games alongside Giorgian de Arrascaeta. Both Araujo and De Arrascaeta remain sidelined.
Agustin Canobbio scored against Cabo Verde and will be expected to start ahead of Facundo Pellistri on the right-wing once again, with Darwin Nunez fighting with Real Oviedo striker Fede Vinas up front.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Muslera; Varela, Gimenez, Olivera, Sanabria; Ugarte; Canobbio, Valverde, Bentancur, M. Araujo; Vinas
Unavailable: R. Araujo (Injured), De Arrascaeta (Injured)
Questionable: Gimenez (Fitness)
Spain team news: Easing players into the tournament
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is expected to once again start as his minutes continue to be managed as he eases himself into the tournament. Nico Williams is another forward having his fitness managed and he may now also start after two substitute appearances.
New Liverpool signing and fellow winger Victor Munoz is again a doubt due to injury. Luis de la Fuente has opted for a 4-2-3-1 shape, which squeezes Fabian Ruiz out of the side for the time being.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal
Unavailable:
Questionable: Munoz (Injured)
Uruguay’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Fernando Muslera ($4.1m) – Goalkeeper
Federico Valverde ($7.5m) – Midfielder
Maxi Araujo ($6.4m) – Midfielder
Matchday 3 captain pick: Federico Valverde
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Federico Valverde
Free kicks: Federico Valverde
Corners: Federico Valverde
Spain’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Marc Cucurella ($5.1m) – Defender
Pedri ($8.1m) – Midfielder
Lamine Yamal ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Matchday 3 captain pick: Lamine Yamal
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Rodri
Free kicks: Pedri, Lamine Yamal
Corners: Lamine Yamal, Pedri
Key stats
- The teams have met twice at the FIFA World Cup, drawing both fixtures – 2-2 in São Paulo in 1950 in the final round, and 0-0 in the group stage at Italia ’90 in Udine, where Uruguay’s Rubén Sosa missed a late penalty.
- Uruguay have won only four of their last 21 World Cup matches against European teams (D6 L11).
- Uruguay are aiming to reach the knockout rounds for the sixth time in their last eight World Cup participations.
- Maxi Araújo is the first Uruguayan to score in his first two FIFA World Cup appearances since Juan Hohberg in 1954. The only Uruguay player to go beyond that mark is Alcides Ghiggia, who scored in each of his first four matches at the 1950 tournament.
- Spain have opened a FIFA World Cup campaign with successive clean sheets for the first time in 17 participations.
- Spain are aiming to progress past the opening round of the FIFA World Cup for the tenth time in the last 12 editions.
- Spain are unbeaten in regular time in their last 32 matches (W23 D9), a run stretching back to a 0-1 defeat to Colombia in London on 23 March 2024.
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Uruguay vs Spain prediction
If Uruguay were to win this final group game then they would finish above Spain and, should they better the result that Cabo Verde manage against Saudi Arabia, remarkably, they would win the group.
The reason that is remarkable, though, is because the performance level of the Uruguayans is way off where it should be and where it was when they reached the semi-finals of the CONMEBOL Copa America in the first half of the Bielsa era.
Spain remained a fair bit off their absolute best against the Saudis last week but they were majorly improved and will be expected to continue to grow into the tournament and should be backed to simply be better than Uruguay and wrap up top spot in Group H.
Uruguay vs Spain betting tip: Spain to win
