Uruguay Media Reveals National Team Doctor Concealed High Fever from Bielsa Before Knockout World Cup Match
Uruguay's medical staff concealed that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera had a high fever before he played in a crucial World Cup match against Spain on June 26, leading to errors that contributed to the team's elimination from the tournament.
Uruguayan media has exposed that the national team's medical staff failed to inform coach Marcelo Bielsa that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera had a high fever before playing in a crucial World Cup match. According to reports, Bielsa was kept in the dark about Muslera's condition before the goalkeeper took the field and made errors that contributed to Uruguay's elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
In the final group H match on June 26, Uruguay lost 0-1 to Spain, finishing the World Cup with just 2 points and an unspectacular third-place finish insufficient to advance to the knockout rounds. Muslera faced heavy criticism for allowing a goal from Álex Baena's shot that appeared harmless but slipped past the veteran goalkeeper's grasp.
According to Garvé Deportiva radio station, Uruguay's medical team knew beforehand that Muslera had a high fever but failed to report it to Bielsa, allowing the goalkeeper to start before being substituted at halftime. Former Uruguay striker Diego Forlán, a former teammate and close friend of Muslera, revealed on ESPN that Muslera had a fever of 40 degrees Celsius the night before the match.