Spain and Uruguay meet in Guadalajara decider with World Cup knockout paths at stake
Spain and Uruguay meet in the early hours of Saturday at Guadalajara's Estadio Akron, with first place in Group H and a favourable knockout bracket on the line.
Group H standings and scenarios
Spain leads with 4 points after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde and a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Uruguay has 2 points from draws against the same opponents. Cape Verde also has 2 points, Saudi Arabia 1. A Spanish victory guarantees first place. A draw would likely suffice unless Cape Verde beats Saudi Arabia by five goals. Even a defeat would probably not eliminate Spain, as three third-placed teams with worse records have already finished their groups.
- Spain
- 4
- Uruguay
- 2
- Cape Verde
- 2
- Saudi Arabia
- 1
Knockout bracket implications
Finishing first avoids a last-16 meeting with Argentina and sets up a match against the Group J runner-up, currently Australia or Algeria. The subsequent quarter-final would be against the winner of Portugal vs Ghana or another second-placed side. A second-place finish, by contrast, could pit Spain against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round of 32 and force the team into early-morning kick-off times for the rest of the tournament.
Broadcast and scheduling
The match kicks off at 02:00 Spanish peninsular time in the early hours of Saturday 27 June at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. It will be shown live on La 1, RTVE Play and DAZN. TVE will re-broadcast the full game at 11:20 on Saturday morning for viewers who cannot stay up. If Spain tops the group, all subsequent knockout matches will be scheduled in the prime-time 21:00 slot; otherwise they will fall between 03:00 and 05:00.
Spain's form and selection
After a sluggish start against Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente's side rediscovered its rhythm in the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Lamine Yamal, who played an hour in that match, is expected to feature for more than 60 minutes against Uruguay as he completes his recovery from injury. Nico Williams is progressing more slowly and is unlikely to start. Pedro Porro said: "With Lamine there's a very good feeling."
Our idea is to be first. We don't play to lose or draw. What may or may not happen depends on other teams. We focus on our own game, no matter who we face.
Uruguay's desperation
Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay has yet to win at this World Cup and sits on the brink of elimination. Two draws leave the two-time champion needing a victory to guarantee progression. The team is dealing with internal tensions and Bielsa's future is uncertain. Spain expects a fierce challenge from a side fighting for its tournament life.
