Álex Baena had a simple message after Spain edged past Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: enjoy the win, but don’t get comfortable. The result was tight, the football was gritty, and the road from here only gets harder.
Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 on June 27, 2026, at Estadio Akron, with Baena’s 42nd-minute strike proving to be the decisive moment of the match. It was the midfielder’s first goal at a FIFA World Cup, and it came at exactly the right time, giving Spain the lead heading into halftime and a platform they never surrendered.
Function over flair
After the final whistle, Baena was candid about what the match actually looked like from the inside. Uruguay’s defensive intensity was relentless, and it effectively dismantled Spain’s preferred passing rhythms.
In Baena’s own words, the match against Uruguay was not about showing off. It was about competing. Uruguay pressed hard, disrupted Spain’s combinative play, and forced the reigning European champions to find a different gear entirely.
