The defeat to Spain caused Uruguay to officially stop in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. After the match, coach Marcelo Bielsa attracted attention with a moment of anger.
In a quick interview on the field, Mr. Bielsa appeared impatient as the television crew had not completed the preparations. The 70-year-old coach repeatedly urged: "Come on, hurry up" so that the exchange could start sooner.
When the interview took place, the Uruguayan head coach almost did not want to prolong the conversation. He answered briefly, avoiding going deep into professional issues and quickly ended the exchange with a cold attitude.
Tension continued to appear in the subsequent interview. When asked about the decision to replace goalkeeper Fernando Muslera - who made the mistake leading to the only goal conceded in the match, Mr. Bielsa only gave a short answer that this was a player's decision. When reporters continued to exploit further, he immediately interrupted and declined to comment.
Coach Bielsa's reactions after the match partly show the great pressure he has to bear. With Uruguay being eliminated early, the future of the Argentine strategist is becoming a topic of particular interest to the country's media in the coming days.
According to international media, the Uruguayan Football Federation (AUF) decided to cancel the plan to bring the whole team back by private jet after being eliminated from the group stage.
Instead of moving together as planned, the players will arrange their schedules on commercial flights. Some members immediately return to their club, while others return to Uruguay to rest before entering the new season.
This decision was made not long after the defeat to Spain in the last match of Group H. Before the tournament, Uruguay was considered a bright candidate for a spot in the knockout round. However, winning only 2 points after matches against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde put them at a disadvantage.
Local media reported that AUF will conduct a review of the entire World Cup campaign, from preparation to professional work, to find out the reasons for the performance below expectations.
