Uruguay’s players are reportedly in revolt against Marcelo Bielsa ahead of their final 2026 World Cup group match with Spain.

Uruguay would have been happy when the World Cup draw was made last December. Despite being placed in Group H alongside pre-tournament favourites Spain, Uruguay were easily expected to see off Cape Verde, ranked 67th in the world, and Saudi Arabia, the world’s 61st best side.

However, Bielsa’s side did not get the results they would have wanted from their opening two matches of the tournament.

Uruguay opened up their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. They then drew 2-2 with Cape Verde at Miami Stadium.

Those two disappointing results mean that Uruguay now need to avoid defeat to Spain to progress to the last 32 of the competition.

There has been chaos behind the scenes ahead of the crucial game with the reigning European champions, though.

Uruguay’s Players ‘Revolt Against Marcelo Bielsa’

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Tensions are high in Uruguay ahead of their match against Spain, according to radio station Espectador Deportes, per ge.globo.

A group of Uruguay players, including Federico Valverde, Rochet, Manuel Ugarte and Rodrigo Bentancur, summoned Bielsa for a meeting ahead of the match.

The players were unhappy with the intense training load and believed that some players had suffered injuries during preparation as a result.

Not only did the players request changes to the training load, they also urged Bielsa to make tactical changes so they could compete with Spain. They asked Bielsa if they could play in a low block and try and hurt their opponents on the counter.

Bielsa wasn’t having any of it, though. He called a team meeting and said that they would play as they have been playing.

According to El Espectador, he also accused players of trying to get rid of him after he stopped calling up Luis Suárez and didn’t include midfielder Nahitan Nández in the World Cup squad.

Bielsa wasn’t done there, though, saying that he had orchestrated the careers of some national team players, such as Sebastián Cáceres and Maxi Araújo.

Some Uruguay players weren’t happy at all and reportedly left the meeting immediately. Jose Maria Gimenez is said to have tried to defuse the situation, but he was unsuccessful in his attempts.

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Bielsa is under no illusions as to how important their match against Spain is. In his pre-match press conference, he said, per Reuters: “We are approaching tomorrow’s match as ​a final. One of the best ways to defend is to ​make sure the ​opponent has ⁠the ball for less time.”

He also praised Spain boss, Luis de la Fuente. He added, per Yahoo!: “It seems to me that, with the type of soccer that he achieved with Spain, which is unique, and his entire work there, which is significant, it definitely doesn’t reflect my own style.

“It’s a type of soccer a lot more beautiful than what I achieved with my team. The truth is that what he has accomplished with Spain is admirable.”

Nate Diaz once revealed who he regards as the toughest opponent he’s faced in his whole career, and it’s not who you might expect.

The California native has participated in many fights in both boxing and the UFC, sharing the ring and the cage with a whole host of big names. Conor McGregor, Jake Paul, Jorge Masvidal, Tony Ferguson, and Rafael dos Anjos are just a few of the stars he’s fought in either boxing or MMA, or in some instances, both.

Diaz is currently 1-1 in bouts against Irish superstar McGregor, and he’s arguably his biggest rival in the UFC, but it wasn’t who he named as his toughest opponent.

He first faced Notorious at UFC 196 in March 2016, where he won the bout by submission. Later that year, the pair rematched at UFC 202 in a five-round classic, which McGregor edged on the judges’ scorecards.

After leaving the UFC following his victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in 2022, Diaz declined to re-sign with the world’s leading MMA promotion. Instead, he decided to embark on a boxing career, which led to him facing Jake Paul in an August 2023 bout.

Diaz lost the bout by unanimous decision, with the ringside judges only giving him a handful of rounds. His return to professional boxing a little under a year later was far more successful, as he scored a majority decision over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

However, despite going to war in each of these pay-per-view contests, none of the men mentioned above gave Diaz his hardest fight, according to the man himself.

Instead, Diaz went back all the way to 2008 when he went up against fellow American Josh Neer at UFC Fight Night 15.

Nate Diaz Reveals His Toughest Ever Opponent

“There’s a guy that I fought [in 2008] named Josh Neer,” he revealed during an appearance on Bradley Martin’s Podcast.

Nate first became fully aware of Neer’s abilities after his brother, Nick Diaz, fought him at UFC 62 in August 2006. Nate was immediately impressed with Neer’s toughness.

“Josh Neer fought my brother, and they were fighting for three rounds, hard, and Nick’s doing his thing, hitting him a lot, and I was like, ‘This f****** guy is crazy!’ And then Nick ended up finishing him in the third round. Most people Nick finished [at the time] were all in the first round and maybe the second round.”

Two years later, it would be Nate’s turn to step into the Octagon with Neer. Their bout served as the main event of a September 2008 UFC Fight Night event in Omaha, Nebraska.

“Time went by, and then he went down to 155 where I was fighting at. And I asked for a better opponent. I was beating people – that’s when I first got to the UFC, I beat a few people. And so they gave me Josh Neer, who was one of the top five guys.”

Diaz recalled: “That’s right when I started to fight top people. And it was my hardest fight.”

Explaining why Neer presented such a tough challenge, Nate said: “I watched him fight so much, and then trained so perfectly for him that everything was like – he’d throw punches, I slipped it right under it, grabbed him and everything. But he countered everything, and it was like if you watch that fight, me versus Josh Neer, it’s a hundred miles an hour. It’s a good fight. He’s a motherf*****. He’s my boy now, though, we’re homies!”

Despite finding Neer a tough foe to crack, Diaz was crowned the winner via split decision. Neer did all he could to gain a different outcome, attempting four submissions throughout the fight and constantly pressuring Nate.

Michael Owen has urged Thomas Tuchel to make wholesale changes as he named his bold England XI for their third and final 2026 World Cup group stage match against Panama.

England got their World Cup campaign off to a brilliant start when they beat Croatia 4-2. With confidence high, the Three Lions were expected to beat Ghana a few days later and book their place in the last 32 of the competition.

However, England were far from their best at Kansas City Stadium as they played out a goalless draw with the African nation.

Tuchel is now expected to make multiple changes to his starting lineup when England face Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday.

The Three Lions have already booked their place in the last 32 of the competition but need to secure victory over Thomas Christiansen’s side to clinch top spot in Group L.

With the match on the horizon, Owen has told the Daily Mail the 11 England players he thinks should start.

Michael Owen’s England 11 to Take on Panama

REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Despite England needing a victory to clinch first place in their group, Owen thinks that Tuchel should heavily rotate his squad. He is already looking ahead to the knockout rounds and would rest the 11 players he would play in the last 32.

With that in mind, he thinks only four England players should retain their place to face Panama: Ezri Konsa, Djed Spence, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke.

In goal, Owen thinks Dean Henderson should step in for Jordan Pickford. In defence, Owen would play Jarell Quansah at right-back, Spence at left-back, and partner Dan Burn with Konsa in the middle.

Owen wants to see Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson given a rest, with Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo replacing them.

Gordon and Madueke retain their places on the flanks, while Owen would rest Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane and play Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins instead.

Despite the weakened team, Owen thinks his XI ‘should’ still beat Panama. Explaining his side, he said:

“I’d stick with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, who have played the opening two matches, because I’d bring in Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka once we’re beyond the group stage.

“We’ve seen this week, important players are starting to pick up little niggles. We have to think long term, and our top stars should not be risked – or needed – against Panama.”

Thomas Tuchel Hints at Changes

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Tuchel has hinted he will rotate his squad for their match against Panama. Speaking after the draw against Ghana, he said, per the Independent:

“I was not even sure if to do the full rotation [if England had beaten Ghana]. Maybe we would have. But I am not shy to do some rotation now.

“Some players should be on the pitch but maybe it will be more moderate. It’s not always fair if you just rotate your players in and say, ‘Okay, let’s perform.’ Let’s see.

“I like, for example, the centre backs today. They were good together. I like Elliot Anderson, he had a step forward and a good performance, maybe a bit better than against Croatia.”

If England manage to beat Panama and top the group, they will face one of the best performing third-placed sides in the last 32. As things stand, they will play Ecuador.