Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera defended amid criticism after early World Cup exit

Uruguay was eliminated in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held across the United States, Mexico and Canada, without winning a match. The team’s early exit sparked criticism of coach Marcelo Bielsa and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was blamed for several conceded goals.

Former Uruguay goalkeeper Carlos Mario Goyén said Muslera was unfairly singled out, noting that the keeper chose to be substituted after a serious error to avoid harming his teammates. Goyén praised Muslera’s decision as “noble” and argued that the defensive lapses were a shared responsibility. Additional former players highlighted Muslera’s overall performance, stating that the errors were not solely his and that he had made several key saves during the tournament.