Bielsa: The Uruguay players have not met my expectations

Uruguay began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in Group H, and head coach Marcelo Bielsa said his team did not meet expectations.

Bielsa said Uruguay went into the tournament aiming to win every game and was unhappy with the result, believing his side had the quality to take all three points. He also credited Saudi Arabia for a disciplined display, saying they used space well and put Uruguay under pressure at different stages.

Uruguay controlled parts of the match but were not sharp enough in front of goal, according to Bielsa. He said that in a World Cup even a small mistake can change the outcome of a game.

Two matches remain for Uruguay in the group stage, and Bielsa said qualification is still in their hands. He added that his side must review the errors from the Saudi Arabia match and approach the next fixtures with more focus.