Bielsa resigns and Uruguay squad stripped of private jet after World Cup exit to Spain

Uruguay’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in humiliation on Friday as a 1-0 defeat to Spain sent the two-time world champions home early, triggering Marcelo Bielsa’s resignation and a decision by the Uruguayan football federation (AUF) to strip the squad of their private jet home.

The AUF confirmed to Uruguayan outlet Tenfield that players would make the return journey on commercial flights — a pointed rebuke after a group-stage campaign that yielded just two points from draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Uruguay, ranked 19th in the world and the highest-ranked nation eliminated at this tournament, failed to advance even as a third-place finisher in the expanded 48-team format.

Bielsa, 70, did not wait to be pushed. In a raw post-match press conference, the Argentine coach accepted full responsibility for the exit while insisting his three-year tenure had ultimately produced nothing of lasting value.

“The fourth place in the World Cup qualifiers wasn’t worth anything, third place in the Copa América wasn’t worth anything, and obviously, I don’t need to describe this showing,” Bielsa said. “The journalists, the Uruguayan supporters, you all want to blame me for what happened, and I must take that blame. It is the only right thing to do.”

The defeat was accompanied by two flashpoints that underlined the tension within the camp. Veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, a fixture for Uruguay since the 2010 World Cup, was substituted at half-time following a first-half error. Bielsa claimed the decision came from the player himself — a claim that raised eyebrows. “No, I didn’t take [the decision],” he said. “It’s a decision Muslera took himself.”

The second incident proved more visible. Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, one of Uruguay’s most influential players, was hauled off in the 57th minute for striker Federico Viñas. Valverde left the pitch visibly furious and refused to shake Bielsa’s hand. The coach defended the call as a tactical move to add attacking threat, but the image of his captain walking past him without acknowledgement captured the mood of a squad that had fallen well short of expectations.

Uruguay had entered the tournament with a squad capable of progressing, built around Valverde and former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez. Instead, they depart as the most notable early casualty of a World Cup that was supposed to offer more paths to the knockout rounds, not fewer.