The Uruguay national team went through difficult times just hours before their first match at the 2026 World Cup against Saudi Arabia, after being stranded in Mexico due to administrative problems with the team’s plane.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team were reportedly due to travel from Cancun to Miami on Sunday, but the scheduled plane did not have the necessary documentation to gain entry into the United States. This caused the flight to be delayed for several hours and left the Uruguayan delegation stranded ahead of their opening Group H match.
FIFA later confirmed that the delay was caused by an error related to flight clearances by the airline, which later apologized for the incident. The world soccer body said it was working with airport authorities and the team to minimize the impact of the problem.
Travel problems meant Uruguay arrived in Florida late and had less than 24 hours to prepare for their clash with Saudi Arabia. Captain Jose Maria Gimenez admitted the situation was “difficult”, while Bielsa downplayed its impact on the team.
The Uruguayan Football Federation expressed dissatisfaction with the way the situation was managed, while international media have described the episode as another logistical problem in the 2026 World Cup.
