Uruguay World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List

Marcelo Bielsa named the Uruguay World Cup 2026 Squad on May 31, 2026, and the loudest noise came from a name that wasn’t on it. Luis Suarez, the nation’s all-time top scorer, was left out. He’ll miss a World Cup for the first time since 2010.

Bielsa picked 26 players built around Federico Valverde, with Jose Maria Gimenez keeping the captain’s armband. Fernando Muslera came out of retirement at 39 for a record fifth World Cup. Uruguay finished fourth in CONMEBOL qualifying and landed in Group H next to Spain.

Uruguay Quick Facts:

• Country: Uruguay
• Confederation: CONMEBOL
• Nickname: La Celeste
• Head Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
• Captain: Jose Maria Gimenez
• Group: Group H
• Group Opponents: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
• First Match: June 15, 2026 vs Saudi Arabia, Miami Stadium, 6:00 PM ET
• Last Group Match: June 26, 2026 vs Spain, Guadalajara Stadium, 8:00 PM ET
• World Cup Appearance: 15th
• Kit Manufacturer: Puma

Uruguay Squad List for World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers

• Sergio Rochet, 33, Internacional (Brazil)
• Fernando Muslera, 39, Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina)
• Santiago Mele, 28, Monterrey (Mexico)

Defenders

• Ronald Araujo, 27, Barcelona (Spain)
• Jose Maria Gimenez (C), 31, Atletico Madrid (Spain)
• Mathias Olivera, 28, Napoli (Italy)
• Santiago Bueno, 27, Wolverhampton Wanderers (England)
• Sebastian Caceres, 26, Club America (Mexico)
• Guillermo Varela, 33, Flamengo (Brazil)
• Joaquin Piquerez, 27, Palmeiras (Brazil)
• Matias Vina, 28, River Plate (Argentina)

Midfielders

• Federico Valverde, 27, Real Madrid (Spain)
• Rodrigo Bentancur, 28, Tottenham Hotspur (England)
• Manuel Ugarte, 25, Manchester United (England)
• Giorgian De Arrascaeta, 31, Flamengo (Brazil)
• Nicolas De La Cruz, 28, Flamengo (Brazil)
• Emiliano Martinez, 26, Palmeiras (Brazil)
• Maximiliano Araujo, 26, Sporting CP (Portugal)
• Agustin Canobbio, 27, Fluminense (Brazil)
• Facundo Pellistri, 24, Panathinaikos (Greece)
• Rodrigo Zalazar, 26, Braga (Portugal)
• Juan Manuel Sanabria, 26, Real Salt Lake (United States)
• Brian Rodriguez, 26, Club America (Mexico)

Forwards

• Darwin Nunez, 26, Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
• Rodrigo Aguirre, 31, Tigres (Mexico)
• Federico Vinas, 27, Real Oviedo (Spain)

The squad runs from 24-year-old Facundo Pellistri to 39-year-old Fernando Muslera. Bielsa kept just three out-and-out forwards and stacked the middle with 12 midfielders. That choice shows how he wants Uruguay to play, with bodies in midfield and wide men pushing up.

Brazilian clubs dominate the list. Flamengo, Palmeiras, Internacional and Fluminense supply seven players between them. The rest sit across Europe’s big leagues, from Real Madrid and Barcelona to Tottenham and Manchester United. Only Darwin Nunez plays his club football outside the Americas and Europe.

Uruguay World Cup 2026 Fixtures

Uruguay play two group games in Miami and travel to Mexico for the finale. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Uruguay Time (UYT), which runs one hour ahead of ET in June.

Date	Match	Venue	Time (ET)	Time (UYT)
June 15, 2026	Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia	Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens	6:00 PM	7:00 PM
June 21, 2026	Uruguay vs Cape Verde	Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens	6:00 PM	7:00 PM
June 26, 2026	Uruguay vs Spain	Guadalajara Stadium, Zapopan	8:00 PM	9:00 PM

The top two teams in Group H reach the Round of 32, and the eight best third-placed teams also go through. Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde are the games Uruguay must win. Spain in Guadalajara could decide who tops the group.

Cape Verde are debutants and the lowest ranked side in the group. Saudi Arabia have World Cup pedigree but lost to Uruguay 1-0 back in 2018. Spain are the clear favourites, so six points from the first two matches feels essential.

Manager: Marcelo Bielsa

Marcelo Bielsa is 70 years old, Argentine, and took the Uruguay job on May 15, 2023. Fans call him El Loco for his obsessive, all-action style. He is one of the most copied coaches in the modern game, and Pep Guardiola once called him the best manager in the world.

His coaching road is long and well travelled. Bielsa led his native Argentina and Chile at past World Cups, then managed Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Leeds United in Europe. His Leeds side won promotion playing relentless, high-pressing football.

Bielsa steadied Uruguay through a bumpy qualifying campaign. La Celeste finished fourth in CONMEBOL and booked their spot with a 3-0 win over Peru in September 2025. Along the way he ended long winless runs against both Brazil and Argentina.

He favours a vertical, front-foot approach with aggressive pressing and quick transitions. The heavy midfield selection points to a fluid shape that can shift between a back three and a back four. Bielsa wants his wide players high and his pivots winning the ball early.

Star Player: Federico Valverde

Federico Valverde is 27, plays for Real Madrid, and serves as Uruguay’s vice-captain. He is the engine of this team and one of the best central midfielders on the planet. His running power, long-range shooting and tackling make him a complete modern midfielder.

Valverde has earned more than 70 caps and scored 8 goals for Uruguay, with his cap count correct as of December 2025. He joined Real Madrid’s first team in 2018 and has won the Champions League twice along with three La Liga titles.

His versatility is rare. Valverde often shifts to right-back for Real Madrid, then drives box to box the next week. In March 2026 he scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 3-0 Champions League win over Manchester City.

For Uruguay he is more than a midfielder. He is the leader and the standard-setter under Bielsa. To end a long wait for World Cup glory, La Celeste need him at his best.

Key Players to Watch

Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez is 26 and leads the line for Uruguay. He moved to Saudi club Al Hilal after his Liverpool spell and remains the team’s main goal threat. His pace in behind and direct running stretch defences and create space for others.

Nunez has scored 13 goals in 38 caps for his country. With only three forwards in the squad, Bielsa has no like-for-like backup up top. That makes Nunez both Uruguay’s biggest weapon and a player they cannot afford to lose.

Fernando Muslera

Fernando Muslera is 39 and back from international retirement for one last run. He hung up his gloves in 2024 after 133 caps but answered Bielsa’s call. This is his fifth World Cup, a record for any Uruguay player.

His experience is the draw here. Muslera won the 2011 Copa America and has seen every kind of tournament pressure. Whether he starts ahead of Sergio Rochet or not, his calm presence in the group should steady a young goalkeeping unit.

Facundo Pellistri

Facundo Pellistri is 24 and the youngest player in the squad. The winger left Manchester United for Panathinaikos in Greece, where regular minutes revived his career. His dribbling and energy down the right give Bielsa a direct option off the bench or in the side.

Pellistri fits the high, wide role Bielsa loves. He presses hard and runs at full-backs without fear. In a squad full of seasoned names, he represents the next wave of Uruguayan talent pushing for a starting spot.

Qualification Path & World Cup History

Uruguay came through the long CONMEBOL round-robin in fourth place. They recorded 7 wins, 7 draws and 4 defeats from 18 matches for 28 points. A 3-0 home win over Peru on September 4, 2025 sealed their place with games to spare.

That result confirmed a fifth straight World Cup after 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. You can see the full CONMEBOL qualifying table on FIFA’s site. Bielsa’s draw-heavy run frustrated some fans, but Uruguay rarely lost.

This is Uruguay’s 15th World Cup, and few nations carry more history. They won the first tournament in 1930 on home soil and lifted the trophy again in 1950. Their all-time finals record reads 25 wins, 13 draws and 21 defeats.

The modern high point came in 2010, when Uruguay reached the semifinals and finished fourth. They made the quarterfinals again in 2018. The most recent trip ended early, with a group stage exit at Qatar 2022 despite a closing 2-0 win over Ghana.

What to Expect & Our Prediction

Bielsa will set Uruguay up to press high and move the ball fast. The strength is a deep, talented midfield led by Valverde, with Bentancur and Ugarte able to shield the back line. Few teams in the tournament can match that central quality.

The obvious worry is the forward line. Three strikers is a thin margin, and a Darwin Nunez injury would leave Bielsa short on natural goals. Spain are the standout test in the group and the likely battle for first place.

Saudi Arabia first up is winnable but tricky in Miami’s heat. Cape Verde, the debutants, should be a game Uruguay control. Spain in Guadalajara may decide who finishes top.

Uruguay are expected to reach the knockout rounds, most likely as runners-up behind Spain. The best case is a deep run powered by Valverde. The worst case is an early exit if the goals dry up. A last-16 spot looks the fair call. This prediction reflects the opinion of WCW Staff.

Uruguay World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs

The Uruguay World Cup 2026 Squad mixes seasoned winners with a new generation under one of football’s great thinkers. Valverde leads a midfield-heavy side ranked 17th in the world. La Celeste arrive in North America chasing a first deep run since their fourth-place finish in 2010.