Uruguay readies for decisive World Cup match vs Spain after draw with Cabo Verde

Uruguay’s campaign in Group H of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a pivotal turn after a 2‑2 draw with Cabo Verde at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, leaving the Celeste with two points and a must‑win against Spain in Guadalajara to guarantee progression. Coach Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been training behind closed doors in the Riviera Maya, splitting sessions between recovery work for starters and high‑intensity drills for squad players at the Fairmont Mayakoba resort. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who lamented the draw, emphasized that “it depends on us” as the team prepares for the upcoming clash. Captain José María Giménez, absent from the first two matches, appeared in a recent training session, suggesting a possible return to the starting lineup. Uruguay will travel to Guadalajara on Thursday afternoon for the Friday night match, scheduled for 21:00 local time. A win secures a spot in the round of 16; a draw could still keep Uruguay in contention via the best‑third‑place ranking, while a loss would likely see them eliminated.