Uruguay’s national football team has been eliminated from the World Cup after losing 1–0 to Spain in a decisive group-stage match. Reports from ESPN and local outlet El Espectador indicate that senior players, including Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, were furious with coach Marcelo Bielsa and demanded his resignation before the match. Following the defeat, Bielsa accepted full responsibility, saying he had failed to deliver results and that his contribution to Uruguayan football was meaningless without success.

According to the reports, Bielsa’s strict training methods and tactical rigidity caused deep divisions within the squad. Senior players blamed his intense physical drills for multiple injuries and opposed his insistence on high-intensity man-to-man pressing, preferring a defensive low-block strategy against Spain. In a 48-minute emergency meeting before the match, Bielsa accused some players of trying to oust him and admitted selecting injured players out of loyalty.

The internal conflict and subsequent defeat have left Uruguayan fans deeply concerned as the team exits the tournament at the group stage for the second consecutive World Cup.