Fans at Miami Stadium were in for a surprise as players from Saudi Arabia and Uruguay walked out of the tunnel on Monday for their Group H match at the 2026 World Cup.
One of the players in Uruguay’s starting XI wore a face mask – a blue one around the eyes.
Who is the player wearing a face mask in Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay?
The player wearing a face mask in Uruguay versus Saudi Arabia is Sebastian Caceres, a 26-year-old central defender who plays his club football in Mexico for CF America.
Caceres made his senior international debut in September 2022 and was part of the Uruguay squad that finished third in the 2024 Copa America. He inherited Uruguay’s iconic No. 3 jersey at the 2026 World Cup.
«This is what I dreamed of as a child. To be able to participate in a World Cup with the national team is the ultimate. The team is in very good shape and I know we will do very well,» Caceres said before the match against Saudi Arabia.
Why is Sebastian Caceres wearing the face mask in Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay?
Caceres suffered a serious facial injury while playing for CF America against Puma UNAM in May 2026. The injury reportedly included a concussion, a fractured cheekbone and an eye injury.
The defender was forced off the field and was hospitalized, after which he underwent surgery.
As a result, he was seen wearing a blue mask for protection during the opening World Cup match against Saudi Arabia.
This is not the first time a player has done something at the World Cup. Previously, Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol and South Korean captain Son Heung-min were seen wearing face masks at Qatar 2022.
Published on June 16, 2026
