Valverde has been ruled out of today’s friendly for Uruguay against Japan after sustaining an ankle injury during the Madrid Derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The 28-year-old playmaker is expected to miss two to three weeks while recovering.

‘El Pajarito’ was expected to anchor Forlan’s midfield, forcing the newly minted head coach to pivot quickly. In response, Forlan called up Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martínez to fill the void left by the Real Madrid star.

Expectations are sky-high for Forlan in his new role. As one of the most decorated players in La Celeste’s history, the former striker intimately understands the squad’s identity and culture as he looks to establish a winning culture early in his international managerial tenure.

Predicted lineup for Uruguay without Valverde

Despite missing Valverde for the kickoff of their Asian Tour in Japan, Uruguay boast a healthy squad otherwise. Anchored by Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur and former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, Uruguay are projected to roll out the following XI against the Samurais Blue:

• Goalkeeper: Santiago Mele
• Defenders: Guillermo Varela, Sebastian Caceres, Mathias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez
• Midfielders: Nicolas De La Cruz, Rodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte
• Forwards: Facundo Pellistri, Darwin Nunez, Maximiliano Araujo

Kickoff between Uruguay and Japan is scheduled for 6:05 a.m. ET. Anticipation is building back home in Montevideo as supporters look to see how the team evolves after a turbulent period under former manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Key takeaways

• Federico Valverde will miss the match after suffering a 2-3 week ankle injury.
• Midfielder Emiliano Martinez was called up from Palmeiras to fill the roster vacancy.
• Diego Forlan will debut as head coach for the Uruguay national team against Japan.

But fans are asking: why Forlan? The answer is simple. He’s a household name and exactly what the public wanted, a former player who knows the national team inside out and was a legendary figure for the country during his playing days.

Another question people want answered centers on Forlan’s lack of international managerial experience. He has never won a match as a senior national team manager, meaning he has plenty to prove moving forward.

Forlan’s club management background

Despite his lack of international experience, Forlan does have some miles on the odometer as a club manager. He first took the reins at Peñarol from December 2019 to August 2020, finishing with four wins, three draws, and four losses.

His most recent managerial stint was with Atenas, another Uruguayan club. His record there was quite similar, going 4-5-3 in 12 matches. Overall, Forlan holds a 34.74% career win percentage.

A temporary job for Forlan

It’s worth noting that Forlan is only taking over on an interim basis. According to Marca and other international outlets, his tenure is locked in until March 2027. In a bit of a bizarre twist, he will also pull double duty as the head coach of the U-20 squad.

Of course, the Uruguayan Football Association could eventually decide to extend Forlan’s contract past March and hand him the job full-time. They will likely evaluate his performance during upcoming international friendlies before making a final decision.

“Today is one of the worst days of my life. I get injured again after a very difficult year, in which pubalgia won many battles, but not the war,” the player began his statement on his official Instagram account.

The main target of his comments was De La Cruz: “Yesterday I suffered a new injury after a play in which a fellow professional acted out of frustration, dissatisfaction, and sadness due to the situation he was going through. It was a challenge that, in my opinion, could have been avoided because it was completely unnecessary.”

Despite his disappointment, Williams thanked everyone for their support and stated that he will return sooner rather than later. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your messages of support. The story is not over—we’ll see each other as soon as possible at this World Cup.”

What injury did Nico Williams suffer?

Nico Williams came on in the second half of the match, in which his team defeated Uruguay and eliminated the South American side, and finished the game injured after a hard tackle by Nicolas De La Cruz.

According to an announcement by Fabrizio Romano on his X account, Williams suffered a muscle injury to his right adductor after a heavy knock. In addition, Yeremy Pino sustained an acromioclavicular sprain in his left shoulder and will also be unavailable for the upcoming matches.

What’s next for Spain?

After clinching top spot in Group H with a 1–0 victory over Uruguay, Spain have advanced to the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. La Roja will face the runner-up from Group J—which will be either Austria or Algeria—on Thursday, July 2, 2026. The knockout matchup is scheduled to take place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (Inglewood), California.

Bielsa said he didn’t spoke to Muslera at halftime, and that it was the goalkeeper himself the one that asked to be subbed off. “I didn’t make it [the decision of substituting the GK], that’s a decision Muslera himself made,” Bielsa revealed. However, Bielsa also explained why he subbed off Fede Valverde.

Hence, this cleared the air. The goalkeeper himself didn’t see fit continuing playing after a very bad half of soccer action in a must-win game vs. Spain. Despite the change, Uruguay still couldn’t right the ship and were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Muslera was directly involved in Uruguay’s dismay

Uruguay conceded four goals in the 2026 World Cup, Muslera had a mistake in every single one of those actions. While the fact that Uruguay are eliminated from the tournament is not purely on Muslera, he did have a nightmare of a tournament.

And this is not new. Muslera also had costly howlers in previous editions of World Cups. For instance, in Uruguay’s quarterfinals match vs. France in Russia 2018, a weak, long-distance shot from Antoine Griezmann was grossly mishandled by Muslera, which made France had an unreachable two-goal lead in the game.

In South Africa 2010’s match for third place, Bastian Schweinsteiger struck a long-range free-kick that Muslera spilled, allowing Thomas Muller to pounce and score the rebound. Muslera has been a constant presence for Uruguay, but his mistakes come in crucial moments against the Charruas‘ best interest.

Post-match, Marcelo Bielsa spoke with the media and explained that he was looking for a more offensive image on the pitch with the departure of Valverde. “I wanted the team to have more presence in attack,” Bielsa stated.

To provide context, Uruguay were at the most important moment of this World Cup, trailing 1-0 against the most difficult opponent in the group and fighting for second spot in the Group H standings. In the 57th minute, just as the second half had started, Bielsa decided to remove the captain and top figure, Valverde, to bring on Federico Vinas, who did not make a difference.

Bielsa explains the Muslera substitution

Uruguay’s downfall began with a goal from Spain that arrived in the 42nd minute following a strike by Alejandro Baena, assisted by Marcos Llorente. However, the breakthrough was the direct result of a costly blunder from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Following the mistake, right at the start of the second half, Muslera was substituted for Sergio Rochet. The decision generated plenty of controversy, but Bielsa later explained that it was not his call, but rather the player’s own decision to come off.

Initially, during his post-match press conference, Bielsa was asked about the tactical switch and what was said between them, to which he bluntly responded, “I didn’t say anything to Muslera.” However, when speaking in the mixed zone later, he admitted that the call came directly from the veteran goalkeeper.

“I didn’t make the decision; the decision to come off was made by Muslera himself,” Bielsa stated. It is a sequence that will linger long in the memory of fans, as a combination of inexplicable management by Bielsa and a high-stakes error that slipped out of Muslera’s hands ultimately cost Uruguay their continuation in the World Cup.

With the defeat, Uruguay are officially eliminated from the World Cup. They managed to earn just two points in the group stage after picking up draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia before ultimately falling to Spain. While they finish in third place in the Group H standings, two points are simply not enough for the Uruguayan side to fight for a spot in the next round.

Aside from Spain, the team that ultimately left Uruguay on the outside looking in is perhaps the biggest revelation of the entire tournament. In a historic achievement, Cape Verde advanced to the Round of 32 by locking down second place in the group with three points, a feat accomplished after drawing all of their matches.

Potential opponents for Spain and Cape Verde

Spain have locked in their presence alongside Cape Verde in the Round of 32, and attention is already turning toward who their opponents will be in the next phase, which is already yielding highly intriguing matchups.

Cape Verde already have their fixture confirmed, as they are scheduled to face Argentina on July 3. It will be an incredibly tough test for the underdog nation, given that Argentina are the reigning world champions.

On Spain‘s side of the bracket, their opponent would momentarily be Austria, as they currently occupy second place in Group J. However, the matchup has yet to be officially finalized, as that second position remains a direct battle against Algeria.

Group H final standings

Spain’s winning goal came in the 42nd minute through Álex Baena after a costly mistake by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who was subbed off after the first half. Marcos Llorente delivered a cross into the penalty area, where Baena controlled the ball before firing a shot that slipped through Muslera’s hands and rolled into the net.

Meanwhile, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia played to a 0-0 draw in Houston Stadium. Saudi Arabia created the first scoring opportunities, but Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha produced several key saves. Despite an entertaining contest, neither side found the breakthrough, a result that was enough to send Cape Verde into the knockout stage.

How did Spain win Group H?

Spain finished atop the group after collecting seven points from three matches. Luis de la Fuente‘s squad remained unbeaten throughout the group stage and capped their campaign with a disciplined defensive performance.

For Uruguay, the defeat proved costly as they are out of the World Cup. Marcelo Bielsa‘s team entered the match level with Spain on points but failed to recover after conceding shortly before halftime, ending their World Cup campaign in the group stage. Uruguay also miss out on advancing as one of the best third‑placed teams due to the combination of results, joining the list of eliminated teams in the group stage.

2026 World Cup Group H standings

Cape Verde claim the second qualifying spot after finishing ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The African nation reaches the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.

Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa is not one to sugarcoat things, and after Muslera’s huge mistake in Spain’s goal, coupled with another dubious plays, he opted to trust Sergio Rochet in goal for the second half of a must-win game.

This is likely the end of Muslera‘s international career. Given that the goalkeeper is 40 years old, one must wonder if he will ever get a chance at redemption with his country’s national team.

Rochet was expected to be Uruguay’s starting GK in 2026 World Cup

Rochet played most of the qualifiers and even some friendlies ahead of this tournament. Hence, it was shocking to see Muslera being picked as GK1 for the 2026 World Cup. However, Muslera’s mistakes stem back to the other two games of the group stage, so for Bielsa, enough was enough, and Rochet is now back in the field.

This might prove to be too little to late, as Muslera’s mistakes have been very damaging for Uruguay. Against Cape Verde, Muslera also missed quite heavily a ball that ended up with Cape Verde’s equalizer.

Rochet is also a very experienced goalkeeper

Rochet is now on goal but he is not a spring chicken by any means. He is 33 years old. In fact, Rochet has 35 international caps for Uruguay already, making this his 36th appearance.

Spain midfielder Pedri was controlling the ball near the center circle when three Uruguayan players converged to win back possession. Among them was Manuel Ugarte, who ultimately came off worst in the challenge.

The Manchester United midfielder stretched to reach the ball and, as the challenge failed, went down to the turf in clear distress. Suffering an apparent left knee injury, he was unable to continue and was substituted for Nicolas de la Cruz.

Uruguay against the wall after 45 minutes

Initially, Uruguay was aiming for a draw with Spain to clinch a spot in the Round of 32. However, things got complicated very quickly for La Celeste.

Alex Baena scored before halftime for Spain following a costly mistake by Fernando Muslera, who was replaced for the second half. With that goal, the Europeans are provisionally knocking Uruguay out of the 2026 World Cup.

While Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia were tied at halftime, a loss for Uruguay would leave them out of the tournament, no matter what happened in the other match. Undoubtedly, this would be one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament and in the history of the Uruguayan national team.

The protocol was officially announced to the media by FIFA. The tribute is already being actively observed across the board, with a minute of silence held ahead of the opening whistle in recent marquee matchups.

These crucial fixtures will define the future for national teams in the 2026 World Cup as they eye the next round. With groups still completely wide open across the tournament, any single squad knows that a result on the pitch can drastically alter its course. The pre-game homage serves as a unified pause for the sport before the high-stakes competitive action takes over.

The earthquake that shook Venezuela

The natural disaster consisted of a major seismic event that struck the northern region of the South American territory this past Wednesday. The main earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.5, with the epicenter located 28 kilometers southeast of Yumare at an estimated depth of 10 kilometers.

The tragedy has caused considerable human losses, with official authorities currently reporting more than 900 fatalities in addition to thousands of injuries. The hardest-hit areas are heavily concentrated in urban localities within Carabobo state, downtown sectors, and areas neighboring Caracas. As a direct consequence of the catastrophe, the government has declared a general state of emergency due to severe damage inflicted upon critical infrastructure.

Spain have already shown solidarity

Spain, the owner of the third place in the FIFA ranking, have already provided a demonstration of solidarity, observing a minute of silence during their final training session before the matchup against Uruguay to honor the victims of the earthquake that shook Venezuela this past Wednesday.

During their practice session in Guadalajara, the players gathered at the center of the pitch to pay their respects. The 26 players and manager Luis de la Fuente all stood together at midfield, offering an excellent show of the support that the world is currently sending to Venezuela.

This protocol measure initially began on Thursday and continues through the commitments scheduled for this Friday. The pre-game homage will be maintained across all remaining matches corresponding to the final matchday of the tournament’s group stage.

After opening the tournament with a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, La Roja responded with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia to move into a strong position heading into the final matchday.

Spain are aiming to finish in first place of Group H, a result that would allow them to avoid a potential Round of 32 blockbuster clash against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Why isn’t Gavi playing against Uruguay?

Gavi won’t start against Uruguay and the decision is purely tactical. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has chosen not to include Gavi in the starting lineup as he looks to rotate his squad and make adjustments for the crucial match against Uruguay.

Is Gavi injured?

No. Gavi is available for selection and has been named among Spain’s substitutes. If Luis de la Fuente feels the team needs more energy or creativity during the match, the Barcelona midfielder could be introduced in the second half.

Could Gavi play later in the game for Spain vs Uruguay?

Yes. Although he is not part of the starting XI, Gavi remains an option off the bench. Depending on how the match unfolds, the Spanish midfielder could see minutes in the second half as Spain push to secure the victory and finish atop Group H.