World Cup Prediction: Spain Eyes Group H Crown, Uruguay Fights to Survive

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spain will face Uruguay in their final Group H match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on Saturday, June 27, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 a.m. WIB. Both teams remain in contention for a place in the Round of 32, although Spain heads into the decisive fixture in a much stronger position.

Spain tops Group H with four points from two matches. Luis de la Fuente's side opened the tournament with a goalless draw against Cape Verde before cruising to a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice in that match, while Lamine Yamal also found the net.

La Roja needs only a draw to secure a place in the knockout stage. Even if Cape Verde beats Saudi Arabia in the other Group H fixture, Spain would still be well placed to qualify unless they suffer a heavy defeat.

A win over Uruguay would guarantee Spain a spot in the Round of 32 as Group H winners. Even a loss could be enough for progression if Cape Verde fails to beat Saudi Arabia.

Spain also holds the historical edge over Uruguay. In 10 previous meetings across all competitions, La Roja has recorded five wins and five draws. The two sides met in the group stages of the 1950 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, with both matches ending in draws.

Their most recent encounter came in the group stage of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Spain claimed a 2-1 victory. La Roja has won each of its last three matches against Uruguay.

Uruguay, meanwhile, is still searching for its first win of the 2026 World Cup. Marcelo Bielsa's side drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in its opening match before being held to a 2-2 draw by Cape Verde.

Those two draws have left Uruguay with two points, level with third-placed Cape Verde, making Saturday's clash a must-win encounter.

Uruguay can still top Group H by defeating Spain, provided Cape Verde does not overcome Saudi Arabia. Depending on the outcome of the other match, Bielsa's men could also advance as runners-up, finish third, or be eliminated.

Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, while its best result in the modern era was a fourth-place finish in 2010. At the 2022 World Cup, La Celeste failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Current Team News

Uruguay will be without Ronald Araujo and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, who are both recovering from calf injuries.

According to Sports Mole, Bielsa is expected to reshuffle his attack, with Darwin Nunez likely to replace Federico Vinas as the central striker. Agustin Canobbio and Maxi Araujo, who impressed against Cape Verde, are expected to retain their places on the wings.

Spain, meanwhile, may still be without Victor Munoz, who has yet to fully recover from injury. Lamine Yamal is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup after starring in the 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

Nico Williams is also tipped to make his first start of the tournament, replacing Alex Baena on the left flank. Dani Olmo could return to midfield after an impressive display in the previous match, with Fabian Ruiz likely to drop to the bench.

Up front, Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to lead the line again after his two-goal performance against Saudi Arabia.

Head-to-Head

• Spain is unbeaten in its last 10 meetings with Uruguay in all competitions, recording five wins and five draws, according to Sportskeeda.

• Their most recent meeting came in the 2013 Confederations Cup group stage, when Spain won 2-1 through goals from Pedro Rodriguez and Roberto Soldado. Luis Suarez scored Uruguay's only goal.

• The two nations have met twice at the FIFA World Cup. They drew 2-2 in 1950 before playing out a goalless draw in the 1990 group stage.

Predicted Lineups

Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Guillermo Varela, Jose Maria Gimenez, Martin Caceres, Mathias Olivera; Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte, Federico Valverde; Agustin Canobbio, Darwin Nunez, Maxi Araujo.

Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams.

Prediction

Uruguay is expected to provide a stern test for Spain in the final Group H fixture, but La Roja enters the match as the favorite after its dominant win over Saudi Arabia. With superior squad depth, stronger recent form, and a commanding head-to-head record, Spain appears well positioned to secure all three points and advance to the Round of 32 as Group H winner.

Read: World Cup Roundup: US and Australia Secure Round of 32 Spots

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

World Cup Roundup: US and Australia Secure Round of 32 Spots

3 jam lalu

Norway vs France: Mbappe and Haaland in 2026 World Cup Duel

4 jam lalu

2026 World Cup Standings: Ecuador, Ivory Coast Advance to Knockouts

8 jam lalu

The 10 Highest Paid Footballers at World Cup 2026

9 jam lalu

2026 World Cup: Japan vs Sweden Match Prediction

16 jam lalu

2026 World Cup: Full List of Teams Qualified and Eliminated

1 hari lalu

2026 World Cup: Which Third-Place Teams Will Advance?

1 hari lalu

How Thapelo Maseko's Single-Goal Leads South Africa to World Cup Knockouts

1 hari lalu

Heat Wave: Why You Should Skip That Cold Beer or Cocktail

1 hari lalu

FIFA World Cup 2026 Standings: Swiss Rule, Qatar Out

1 hari lalu