Uruguay’s buildup to their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia has been disrupted by travel problems that will leave the team arriving in the United States only about 24 hours before kickoff in Miami. The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said the delay was caused by issues beyond its control and blamed FIFA for the breakdown in travel arrangements.
The squad had been scheduled to fly from Cancún, Mexico, but reports in Uruguay said the plane was not authorized to enter the United States. A second aircraft was then arranged to take the delegation to South Florida. In a statement on Sunday, the AUF said the departure from Mexico had been delayed and that the team was resting at the hotel while FIFA set a new departure time of 4:15 p.m.
When asked by The Athletic whether FIFA was responsible for the delay, an AUF spokesperson confirmed, “Correct.”
FIFA later issued its own statement, saying the delay was due to “an airline permitting error in Mexico.” FIFA said the airline apologized and that it had stayed in close contact with the Uruguay team throughout the situation, working with airport and operational partners to reduce the impact on the squad’s travel plans.
The delay prompted a pointed reaction from the AUF on social media. The federation shared a message posted by former Uruguay striker Diego Forlán during the 2010 World Cup, when he criticized a one-hour delay to the team’s charter flight before its opening match. The repost renewed attention on Uruguay’s long-standing frustration with tournament logistics.
Uruguay still held a training session in Cancún on Sunday morning. Head coach Marcelo Bielsa and defender José María Giménez were due to speak to reporters in Miami at 6:45 p.m. local time, but the press conference was pushed back and eventually took place at 8 p.m.
The incident also revived memories of Bielsa’s criticism of tournament organization during the 2024 Copa América in the United States. At that event, the Uruguay coach said the competition had not been professionally run and accused organizers of dishonesty over conditions such as pitch quality and training facilities. His comments reflected a broader frustration with tournament standards and the way South American teams are sometimes treated during major events held in the U.S.
Uruguay now enter their World Cup opener with less recovery time and a disrupted pre-match routine, while Saudi Arabia await a side still dealing with the fallout from a delayed journey. The match is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. ET in Miami.
