Analysing Bielsa’s latest nightmare
The Argentine adds another World Cup disaster to his managerial career. Relations with the dressing room blew everything up even before the tournament.
He was a revolutionary through and through. It would be unfair to remember Marcelo Bielsa solely for his World Cup campaigns. ‘El Loco’ is much more than that. Still, it is a fact that the Argentine is living a nightmare when it comes to this competition. His achievements at club level have never been replicated on the international stage. Uruguay’s catastrophe at the 2026 World Cup is yet another failure for Bielsa, and one of the harshest.
Three wins in ten World Cup matches. It all began with Argentina in 2002. Marcelo Bielsa took charge of the Albiceleste and inherited one of the brightest generations in their history. A team packed with stars such as Batistuta, Verón, Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala and ‘Piojo’ López. Having won 18 consecutive matches, Argentina arrived at the tournament in sensational form and as favourites to lift their third trophy. However, ‘El Loco’s’ methods ultimately failed to translate that momentum into World Cup success.
The opening match against Nigeria ended in a 1-0 victory, but it also provided the first signs that something was wrong. Argentina’s football was slow, predictable and lacking in ideas. The defeat to England and the draw against Sweden then eliminated one of the tournament’s leading contenders in the group stage. To this day, it remains Argentina’s greatest World Cup disappointment. Nevertheless, Bielsa’s extensive collection of scouting footage, reportedly more than 7,000 tapes according to the Argentine press, became a revolutionary method of studying opponents and was later adopted by hundreds of elite coaches.
Chile experienced one of the most brilliant periods in its football history over the following decade, perhaps the greatest of all. Bielsa was the coach tasked with leading a Chilean side determined to make its mark at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This was a gritty, aggressive and fearless team. Very different from the Argentina side of eight years earlier, Chile progressed from the group stage and reached the round of 16.
However, after a promising start with victories over Honduras and Switzerland, Brazil ended Bielsa’s run in the first knockout round. The defeat was painful, with the five-time world champions securing a commanding 3-0 victory. The scale of Brazil’s superiority overshadowed everything Chile had achieved in the group stage. Years later, and already without Bielsa, Chile accomplished a historic feat by winning two Copa América titles against Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
After two unsuccessful World Cup experiences, Marcelo Bielsa decided to pursue a new opportunity. He did so believing that the third time could be different. The circumstances before the 2026 World Cup were somewhat reminiscent of Argentina in 2002, although they were never comparable to the powerhouse Argentina had become in the build-up to that tournament. Still, the atmosphere of optimism, hard work and belief in a clear footballing identity echoed that first Bielsa project.
However, Uruguay’s biggest problem was a complete breakdown inside the dressing room. Bielsa struggled to maintain a positive relationship with several of the squad’s senior figures. Luis Suárez was effectively pushed away from the group, and the Uruguayan forward later said he had witnessed things during Bielsa’s tenure that he did not approve of. Federico Valverde expressed similar concerns days later. The handling of the injuries suffered by Ronald Araújo and José María Giménez before the tournament also raised questions. And so, the competition began.
It quickly became an ordeal. The issues involving the dressing room and the media fractured the group. Bielsa’s relationship with the supporters also deteriorated. No victories at the 2026 World Cup and an early elimination. A disaster. A nightmare. Another painful chapter for Marcelo Bielsa, who will almost certainly leave the Uruguay national team. Perhaps he will try again. Perhaps he will not.
Marcelo Bielsa couldn't contain his frustration 😤
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 27, 2026
The Uruguay boss let his emotions show after his side's World Cup exit. pic.twitter.com/8pMzCqMCm6
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