Fernando Muslera was substituted at half-time by Uruguay‘s manager Marcelo Bielsa after a disheartening World Cup 2026 defeat to Spain, ending their campaign on a low note.
The Estudiantes goalkeeper has had a challenging tournament with La Celeste, notably making errors such as the mishandling of Alex Baena’s shot, which resulted in Spain’s first goal.
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Muslera’s recent blunder marked a historic low, as it was the first time since records began in 1966 that a goalkeeper had made three errors leading to goals in a single World Cup campaign.
Following Baena’s shot slipping past him, Muslera was visibly enraged, shouting in frustration.
Bielsa clarified after the match that it was not his decision to replace Muslera with Sergio Rochet. Instead, the decision came from Muslera himself.
“The Muslera change was not my decision; it was Fernando’s choice,” Bielsa told Uruguayan television.
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“I couldn’t lift the Uruguay players; I owe nothing to the country. With Valverde‘s departure, I sought more offensive presence.”
“From my standpoint as responsible for this World Cup experience, no one is likely to heed any explanation, and that’s understandable.”
Remarkably, this is the first time that Uruguay has substituted their goalkeeper at the World Cup since substitutions were allowed starting at the Mexico in 1970.
Fernando Muslera bundles the ball into his own net (AP)
Fernando Muslera bundles the ball into his own net (Getty)
Uruguay required at least a draw against Spain to advance from Group J after earlier draws with Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia, but their defeat has resulted in elimination with just two points.
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Bielsa’s future as manager now hangs in the balance amid rumors of discontent within the camp. In another contentious move, he substituted Real Madrid‘s superstar Federico Valverde after a lackluster performance, just 56 minutes into the match.