Uruguay’s team was thrown into chaos just hours before their important World Cup match against Spain.
A group of Uruguay players have reportedly pushed back against head coach Marcelo Bielsa just before their important World Cup Group H match against Spain.
Uruguay, who won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, have had a tough time at the 2026 tournament so far. They have drawn both of their first two games, earning two points before facing the European champions. Bielsa’s team started with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia, then tied 2-2 with underdogs Cape Verde.
If Uruguay loses to Spain, they’ll be out of the tournament. A draw could still keep their chances alive, depending on how Cape Verde does against Saudi Arabia—they’d need Cape Verde to draw or lose. But a win would guarantee Uruguay moves on, no matter what happens in the other game.
Despite the high stakes, reports surfaced just hours before kickoff that some players are unhappy with Bielsa’s coaching style. According to Espectador Deportes radio, stars like Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte from Manchester United, and Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur asked Bielsa to change his approach. They’re not happy with the intense training and want the team to play more defensively against Spain.
Bielsa held a 48-minute meeting to explain his strategies and training methods. He also said that some players tried to get him fired after he left out Uruguay legend Luis Suárez from the squad. Globo, a South American news outlet, shared that Bielsa reminded the players he helped build careers of some stars like Sebastián Cáceres and Maxi Araújo. However, some players left the meeting early, and José María Giménez tried but wasn’t able to calm the situation.
Back in 2024, Suárez openly criticized Bielsa’s treatment of the team, saying it “hurt” him during the Copa América. He said players once gathered to ask Bielsa to at least greet them, but the coach didn’t even say hello. Suárez added, “Bielsa has separated the whole group, even in the way they train.”
Bielsa started coaching Uruguay in 2023 after leaving Leeds United in 2022. He’s also managed Argentina and Chile in the past.
Before the game against Spain, Bielsa didn’t directly talk about the tension but made it clear he wouldn’t recommend playing with a low defensive block, which would give Spain most of the ball. Instead, he said, “One of the best ways to defend is to make sure the opponent has the ball less.”
He also praised Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente, who he worked with 15 years ago at Athletic Club. Bielsa said, “Spain’s style of play is unique and beautiful, much more so than what I achieved with my team. What he’s done with Spain is really admirable.”