“I apologize to all the Uruguayan people,” said the goalkeeper, visibly affected, after the 1-0 defeat against Spain at the Guadalajara stadium, a result that sealed the team’s elimination with only two points in Group H.
The goalkeeper added a message of self-criticism after his participation in the competition, in which Uruguay failed to advance to the round despite previous expectations. His words closed a campaign marked by frustration and decisive errors at key moments of the tournament.
“I was always one to show my face. I think this is also the closest way I have to speak to all Uruguayans. I never imagined I was suffering so much for this sport, especially with all the work I did and how I prepared (…) I have to not have had a good World Cup. I apologized to them. I apologize to all the Uruguayan people,” the goalkeeper said after the elimination.
Muslera said goodbye to the tournament at the Guadalajara stadium, where Uruguay lost 1-0 to Spain and was out of the competition in the first phase.
The goalkeeper had previously been singled out for decisive actions in the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia and in the 2-2 draw against Cape Verde, results that complicated the Celeste’s path in Group H.
Against Spain, the key moment came in Álex Baena’s goal in the 42nd minute, when the attacker’s shot ended up beating the goalkeeper after an action in which he failed to clear the ball safely.
The game went to halftime with Uruguay at a disadvantage and Muslera did not return to the field for the second half. “Muslera decided to come out at halftime,” explained coach Marcelo Bielsa after the match.
His place was taken by Sergio Rochet, who had already been a regular starter in the qualifying process and in other stages of the tournament.
Muslera, 40, played in his fifth World Cup and became one of the most experienced figures of the Uruguayan team, with more than a decade defending the celestial goal.
Uruguay closed its participation with only two points and became the only South American team eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.