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WHO: Spain vs Uruguay
What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H Championship
That: Guadalajara Stadium, Mexico
When: Friday, 6pm local time (00:00 GMT)
How to follow: We will have all the construction Al Jazeera Sport from 20:30 GMT ahead of our announcement.
The only conflict between the winners of the FIFA World Cup in the group stage of this type comes in the finals, and it is important for both Uruguay and Spain in Group H.
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Spain is at the top of the table with four points and knows that a win will seal first place, but even though Uruguay is second, it needs one point to ensure that it advances to the last 32 with a Cape Verde side that has the chance to win as group winners.
Is Spain close to the knockout stage?
Despite winning their opening group game against Cape Verde, Spain failed to account for or find a way past veteran Vozinha, having to draw 0-0 which raised eyebrows around the world.
They, however, bounced back in form to sweep aside Saudi Arabia 4-0 on the second day of the tournament and take control of their destination.
“The first game wasn’t us, it was different, but now we’re here and we want more,” said 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who opened the scoring, sitting on the bench for their first game after a stomach injury that prevented the end of his season with Barcelona.
His team was heavily criticized after the lack of consistency in their opening game, but head coach Luis de la Fuente after two games: “It’s crazy to doubt this team.”
“You can have better days, bad days, normal days, but to doubt, to doubt this generation of young footballers, who have a bright future, I think it’s not good,” he said.
Spain will want to build on Saudi Arabia’s success against the South Americans, knowing that a draw could be enough to secure top spot and start a clash with Austria or Algeria in the round of 32.
Beyond that, Portugal are in danger, although neither the USA nor Egypt will have too much to fear when they face France in the semifinals.
Lamal is returning to fitness, and Mikel Oyarzabal is on the brink the spectacular battle of the Golden Boot after his double against Saudi Arabia, but Spain will have to deal with Pedri’s absence due to suspension.
Bielsa wrong roads
Uruguay had high hopes of going through Group H with at least six points, but they were made to pay for careless mistakes.
La Celeste had to salvage a late 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in their opening match, and after conceding an avoidable goal from Cape Verde, they managed to take the lead, only for another dangerous goal to ensure it finished 2-2 despite late pressure from Uruguay.
“The group mistakes that were made, fall on (the head coach),” said Marcelo Bielsa.
“There’s no magic formula to fix them. It doesn’t mean we’ve paid too high a price for those mistakes,” he added.
Whether he chooses to hang out with his staff is unknown, although Darwin Nunez has been active on the bench.
The fact that a draw should be enough to get through to third is important, until you realize that England will be waiting in the knockout stages if they finish top of Group L, meaning Uruguay’s motivation to try and win should be even greater.
How is the World Cup group stage going?
Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia are in Group H.
After the first two games, Spain leads the group with four points, and Uruguay is second with two, ahead of Cape Verde on goal difference in terms of goals scored, and Saudi Arabia is fourth on one point.
The top two teams of all 12 teams – along with the eight teams in third place – go to the next stage, the round of 32, which has been introduced for the first time at the World Cup, following the expansion of the competition from 32 to 48 teams.
Spain need just one point to secure top spot, although Cape Verde can improve on goal difference if they beat Saudi Arabia by more than four goals.
All four sides are still through to the knockout stage, and there is a possibility that three will reach the round of 32.
Form guide
(Last five games, latest results first)
Spain: WDWDD
Uruguay: DDDDL
Spain are one of four teams to have kept a clean sheet at this World Cup after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia following a poor performance against Cape Verde. They won their last warm-up game against Peru 3-1 after the relegation games against Iraq and Egypt.
Uruguay lost the title, being held by Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in their two group games after a 5-1 friendly thrashing by the USA in warm-up games against England and Algeria.
Spain vs Uruguay Prediction
Sports analyst Opta has rated Spain with a 62.2% chance of winning against Uruguay on Friday.
South Americans are given a 15.8% chance of winning and a 22.1% chance of drawing.
Head to head
Spain are unbeaten in 10 meetings with Uruguay over the past 76 years, winning five and drawing five.
Their previous World Cup matches ended – 2-2 in 1950 and 0-0 in 1990. Their last meeting was in the Confederations Cup in 2013, which La Roja won 2-1.
Uruguay vs Spain – group news
With so much at stake, it’s unlikely that either side would risk much of a rotation, even for short-term changes between games.
Spain will be without Pedri after the 23-year-old Barcelona man picked up bookings in both of their opening squads, meaning Luis de la Fuente will have to make changes to his squad.
In Uruguay, Bielsa is still without central defender Ronald Araujo and midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta, but may be tempted to shake up his pack after two disappointing draws.
Uruguay predicted XI: Legguard (goalkeeper); Varela, Olivera, Caceres, Sanabria; Bentancur, Ugarte; Canobbio, Valverde, M. Araujo; Nunez.
Spain predicted XI: Simon (goalkeeper); Leek, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Ruiz, Olmo; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Williams.
