Latin America Sports Daily for Monday, June 29, 2026

01

Uruguay go home — an error, a red card, and De Arrascaeta watching from the bench

World Cup

Fernando Muslera came off his line for a cross in the 42nd minute and could not claim the ball cleanly; it dropped to Álex Baena, who struck it first time. Uruguay were behind from nothing.

What followed was 48 minutes of Uruguay trying to manufacture an equaliser with an xG of 0.20. Darwin Núñez had the only genuine chance of the second half; it did not trouble Unai Simón.

De Arrascaeta was named in the squad and on the bench for all three group games but never started. Uruguay played the entire group stage without their most creative player; they accumulated two points to show for it.

Canobbio made it worse in the fourth minute of stoppage time, lunging at Cubarsí with studs showing, receiving a straight red card, and then grabbing the referee’s shirt. An ugly end to a miserable tournament.

Simultaneously in Houston, Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia and qualified from Group H: three points from three draws in their first World Cup. Uruguay, a two-time world champion, finished third with two points.

It was Uruguay’s second consecutive group stage exit, following their 2022 elimination in Qatar on goal difference. Marcelo Bielsa’s contract situation will be discussed in the coming days.

02

Messi scores again from the bench — seven consecutive World Cup games, a new record

World Cup

Argentina needed only a point against Jordan to confirm their perfect group stage record, but won 3-1 anyway. Lautaro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso both scored their first World Cup goals.

Messi came off the bench and scored the third; it was his seventh consecutive World Cup game with a goal, a new record per CBS Sports. Scaloni managed his minutes throughout the group stage.

Argentina finish with nine points, eight goals, and the squad intact. They face Cape Verde on July 3 in Miami.

In Miami, Colombia drew 0-0 with Portugal and finished top of Group K with seven points. Díaz was active but couldn’t find a breakthrough; Colombia face Ghana on July 3 in Kansas City.

DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and secured their place in the round of 32; they face England on July 2 in Atlanta, the most dramatic first-round matchup of the knockout stage.

03

Brazil and Paraguay both play today — the South American knockout campaign begins

World Cup

Brazil vs Japan: 1pm ET, NRG Stadium, Houston

Brazil won Group C with seven points, topping Morocco on goal difference. Japan finished second in Group F with five points; they last met Brazil at a World Cup in 2006 when Brazil won 4-1.

Germany vs Paraguay: 4:30pm ET, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Paraguay earned this game by surviving against Türkiye with ten men and holding Australia to a 0-0 draw. Germany arrive having lost their group finale 2-1 to Ecuador; this is the kind of game that rewards the better-prepared side.

Full results in tomorrow’s edition.

04

Six South American and LatAm sides in the round of 32 — their fixtures and opponents

World Cup

Six sides from South America and Latin America have reached the round of 32, the knockout stage that now produces a winner or an exit in 90 minutes.

Brazil — vs Japan, today June 29, 1pm ET, Houston. Group C winners, seven points.

Paraguay — vs Germany, today June 29, 4:30pm ET, Foxborough. Group D third-placed team, four points.

Colombia — vs Ghana, July 3, 9:30pm ET, Kansas City. Group K winners, seven points.

Argentina — vs Cape Verde, July 3, 6pm ET, Miami. Group J winners, nine points; perfect group stage.

Ecuador — vs Mexico, June 30, 9pm ET, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. Group E third-placed team, three points.

Mexico — vs Ecuador, June 30, 9pm ET, Estadio Azteca. Group A winners; a LatAm derby at the Azteca.

Uruguay are eliminated; Cape Verde, who qualified with three draws from three games, face Argentina on July 3 in Miami.

05

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Why was Uruguay eliminated from the World Cup?

Uruguay lost 1-0 to Spain in their final Group H game on June 26 in Guadalajara after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to claim a cross, allowing Álex Baena to score from the loose ball in the 42nd minute. The result, combined with Cape Verde drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia simultaneously, meant Cape Verde finished second in Group H with three points while Uruguay finished third with two.

Uruguay’s failure was structural: they drew Saudi Arabia 1-1 and Cape Verde 2-2 conceding each time through errors, and De Arrascaeta never started. Their xG against Spain was just 0.20 in a must-win game.

What is Messi’s World Cup scoring record now?

Messi has 18 career World Cup goals, the all-time record for men’s and women’s combined, and 6 goals at the 2026 tournament, leading the Golden Boot. He has now scored in seven consecutive World Cup games, a new record per CBS Sports.

Against Jordan, Messi came off the bench and scored from a VAR-awarded penalty; Scaloni has kept him fresh for the knockouts. His six 2026 goals include a hat-trick vs Algeria and a brace vs Austria.

What round of 32 games do South American teams play today?

Two games today: Brazil vs Japan at 1pm ET at NRG Stadium in Houston, and Paraguay vs Germany at 4:30pm ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Group C winners vs Group F runners-up; Group D third-placed team vs Group E winners.

Paraguay’s route here was remarkable: 4-1 loss to the USA, 1-0 win over Türkiye with ten men, 0-0 draw with Australia. The winner of each game today advances to the round of 16.