Uruguay were set to play Saudi Arabia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday, but the South American nation’s plane was not authorised to enter the United States
Uruguay have been hit by travel chaos before their World Cup opener (Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
The Uruguayan national team’s aircraft was denied entry into the United States ahead of their 2026 World Cup clash with Saudi Arabia. Uruguay are scheduled to play their opening World Cup fixture in Miami, Florida, against Saudi Arabia at 11pm BST on Monday, having been based in Cancun, Mexico, on Sunday to prepare for their Group H opener.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa and defender Jose Maria Gimenez were also due to face the press on Sunday. However, the South Americans found themselves embroiled in a logistical nightmare in the build-up to Monday’s match, with the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) laying the blame firmly at FIFA’s door for the travel fiasco.
This follows FIFA’s controversial decision to publish inflated official attendance figures despite widespread reports of empty seats.
According to multiple reports emerging from Uruguay, the aircraft chartered to fly the squad from Cancun to Miami was refused permission to enter United States airspace.
A replacement plane was subsequently arranged and the team have now landed.
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Nevertheless, the federation were quick to release an official statement, confirming to The Athletic that FIFA bore responsibility for the delays.
FIFA later explained the delay, insisting the airline was responsible for the situation. A statement said: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed.
“The airline has apologised for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimise disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.”
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa once spoke out about the struggles of traveling to and from the United States(Image: Photo by Agencia Gamba/Getty Images)
This is not the first occasion Bielsa has been embroiled in a logistical issue concerning a side under his management. Bielsa was critical of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa América, which took place in the United States, arguing that the planning and organisation fell well short of what was promised.
“They do press conferences and say ‘No, the fields are perfect, the training pitches are perfect.’… I have all the photos that show that these are all lies,” Bielsa said at the time.
“The United States, I’ll remind you, when they felt their interests were being attacked, they created FIFAGate. With the FBI. They did what they did, but it was for their interests.
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“Here? Nothing happened. This was a fantastic party, a competitive tournament, there’s nothing to complain about.”
The squad is based at a hotel approximately 45 minutes from the airport, and this episode marks just the latest in a series of travel complications that have affected various nations and staff members in recent days.
Omar Artan was refused entry into the United States despite appearing on the list of approved personnel. Iran maintained its supporter ticket allocation had been withdrawn, though the squad itself touched down in the United States following Donald Trump’s announcement of a peace agreement.
Prior to reaching the United States, Iran had been preparing in Tijuana, Mexico, to adjust to the weather conditions at its intended base in Arizona. Iranian striker Medhi Taremi hit out at the United States as a host nation, telling ESPN: “I’ve been to three World Cups, and they always say once you get off the plane and you enter the host country, there’s just a unique atmosphere of friendliness and global-ness.
“Unfortunately, I’m not feeling it right now. There’s a lot of tension right now in this World Cup. You feel it in the atmosphere, and unfortunately, it’s because of actions like [visa denials]. Maybe that’s just my personal feeling.”