Uruguay will reportedly arrive within the US lower than 24 hours earlier than the kickoff time for his or her recreation towards Saudi Arabia.
Revealed On 15 Jun 2026
Uruguay’s nationwide staff have arrived in Miami after enduring a journey ordeal forward of their opening World Cup match in the US.
The squad and help employees landed in Miami on Sunday, lower than 24 hours earlier than kickoff of their Group H match towards Saudi Arabia.
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Uruguay pinned the blame for his or her troubles flying from Mexico to the US on FIFA. Additionally they reportedly confronted the specter of sanction if their head coach and captain couldn’t make it to a compulsory information convention on the eve of the match.
The unique flight was reportedly not allowed to depart because of administrative points, together with some lacking paperwork, and officers needed to scramble to line up a brand new flight.
FIFA is answerable for all journey associated to the 48-team World Cup.
Uruguay are coaching in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and held a observe there on Sunday. When the touring delegation reached the airport in Cancun, roughly 72km (45 miles) away, they realized that the group was not authorised to enter the US.
The Uruguay Soccer Affiliation (AUF) mentioned {that a} second airplane from South Florida was en route to choose up the squad, whereas the gamers waited at a resort outdoors Cancun till its arrival.
“On account of issues past the management of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed,” the affiliation mentioned in a press release. “The squad is resting on the lodge. The brand new departure time set by FIFA is 4:15pm [21:15 GMT].”
FIFA later launched a press release, saying: “On account of an airline allowing error in Mexico, the Uruguay nationwide staff’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed.
“The airline has apologised for the inconvenience brought on. FIFA remained in shut contact with the Uruguay nationwide staff all through their delay and labored alongside airport and operational companions to assist expedite the method and reduce disruption to the staff’s journey preparations.”
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and staff captain Jose Maria Gimenez missed Sunday’s initially scheduled information convention in South Florida because of the challenge. The information convention was pushed again to 8pm Japanese Time (00:00 GMT), and the coach and captain had been in attendance.
“The journey went effectively; we made essentially the most of it and noticed it in a constructive mild,” Gimenez mentioned in Spanish. “We took the prospect to relaxation on the lodge [in Cancun].”
Bielsa was requested what kind of disruption the flight snafu brought on his staff.
“No, the flight doesn’t trigger any issues,” Bielsa mentioned, earlier than altering the topic to his staff’s preparation in each the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo and Mexico’s Playa del Carmen.
“In Montevideo, the gamers had fixed obligations, however in addition they had household time, which I felt was obligatory.”
Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will play their first match of Group H at Miami Gardens at 6pm (22:00 GMT), giving them lower than 24 hours to settle in earlier than kickoff.
The opposite members of the group, Spain and Cape Verde, will play in Atlanta on Monday.
Uruguay had been the most recent to face journey points on the World Cup.
Prime Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US this week after he was “decided to be inadmissible because of vetting considerations”.
In the meantime, the Iranian staff had been granted US visas simply 10 days earlier than their first match in Los Angeles. And Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was interrogated for hours at Chicago’s airport earlier than ultimately being allowed entry. The staff’s photographer, nonetheless, was denied.
