The Uruguayan national team arrived in Miami late Sunday after a travel ordeal ahead of Monday’s opening World Cup match against Saudi Arabia.
Uruguay blamed FIFA for the problems flying from Mexico to Miami, but the country reportedly faced the threat of sanctions if the head coach and captain could not make it to the mandatory press conference on Sunday.
The original flight was reportedly not allowed to depart due to administrative issues, including missing paperwork, and officials had to rush to line up a new flight.
The Athletics reported that a member of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said FIFA was responsible for the traveling bummer. FIFA is responsible for all travel related to the 48-team World Cup.
Uruguay trains in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and held a practice on Sunday. When the traveling delegation reached the Cancun airport, about 45 miles away, they learned that the group was not authorized to enter the United States.
The AUF said a second plane from South Florida was en route to pick up the team while players waited at a resort outside Cancun for its arrival.
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“Due to issues beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been postponed,” the AUF said in a statement. «The team is resting in the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4:15 p.m..»
FIFA later released a statement to FIFA Daily mail and other outlets.
“Due to a licensing error by the airline in Mexico, the departure of the Uruguayan national team from Cancun to Miami was postponed,” the statement said. «The airline has apologized for any inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguayan national team during the delay and worked with airport and operational partners to expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.»
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and team captain Jose Maria Gimenez missed Sunday’s originally scheduled news conference in South Florida because of the problem. The team’s press conference was postponed until 8:00 PM ET, and the coach and captain were present.
“The trip went well; we made the best of it and saw it in a positive light,” Gimenez said in Spanish. “We took the opportunity to rest at the hotel (in Cancun).”
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Bielsa was asked what kind of disruption the flight problem caused for his team.
“No, the flight did not cause any complications,” Bielsa said in Spanish before changing the subject to his team’s preparations in both the Uruguayan capital Montevideo and Playa del Carmen.
“In Montevideo the players had constant obligations, but they also had time for the family, which in my opinion was necessary.”
Uruguay and Saudi Arabia play their first Group H match at Miami Gardens. The remaining members of the group, Spain and Cape Verde, play in Atlanta on Monday.
The match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET, giving them less than 24 hours to settle in before kick-off.
Published on June 15, 2026
