Uruguay World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.

The plan

Marcelo Bielsa has left his indelible mark on this Uruguay team. His 4-3-3 system is built for direct football, allowing his side to press their opponents high up the field and chase the ball at all times. There is no letup in attacking when Uruguay have possession.

It has been a rollercoaster ride in the three years that the former Leeds manager has been in charge, which have included a World Cup qualifying campaign (finishing fourth out of 10 in the Conmebol standings) and the 2024 Copa América (finishing third). There was the extraordinary football played in the second half of 2023, when Argentina and Brazil were beaten, before Uruguay went on a dismal run of one win in 12 (drawing a blank nine times) between July 2024 and June 2025. A 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the US in November led to serious questions being asked of Bielsa. Faith was more or less restored in March when Uruguay drew 1-1 with England and 0-0 with Algeria.

Uruguay do not have the scoring power of old. Luis Suárez, who has more goals than anyone else, made himself unavailable for selection after a falling-out with Bielsa at the end of 2024, although he backtracked on that a few weeks before the World Cup to say he would “never say no to the national team”. With Edinson Cavani retiring after the last World Cup in Qatar, Bielsa is expected to pin his goalscoring hopes on Darwin Núñez, who has struggled for form at Al-Hilal.

Ignacio Alonso, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, set the target: “Uruguay have to aspire to be in the world’s top 10 and therefore we have to reach the quarter-finals.” Alonso also addressed concerns over Uruguay’s form. “Bielsa is very excited for the World Cup,” he said. “He’s got his mind focused on the preparations. His objective is to have a great World Cup. It’s his aspiration, the result of all his work, research and preparation.”

The coach

After the 5-1 humbling by the US, Marcelo Bielsa was seen as the man responsible. Upon their return to Montevideo, Bielsa called a press conference to say he was not resigning, that he had “strength” to continue and admitted he was questioned by his players for his “behaviour”.

Bielsa went on to be astonishingly honest about his own shortcomings in the 90-minute press conference. “I always say one word: I’m toxic,” he said. “Those who get to know me often come off worse for having known me. Toxic. There are toxic people, who only see the mistakes … That behaviour is based on fear. You don’t enjoy winning. You fear losing, much more than you enjoy winning.”

After leading Argentina in 2002 and Chile in 2010, Bielsa takes charge at his third World Cup.

Star player

Everything goes through Federico Valverde, who has improved much since the last World Cup and is shaping up to be a good the leader for the team. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Federico Valverde. The captain of Real Madrid arrives at this World Cup at his peak; at the age of 27 he is among the best in the world and is starting to be the leader Uruguayans hope can inspire their country to the later stages of the tournament. This is Valverde’s second World Cup and his game has come on leaps and bounds since 2022. Everything goes through him and he’ll have to be at his best if Uruguay are to compete with the best midfields. He arrives on the back of a fight with his club teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni but said: “I feel very good. I had the support and affection of all the Real Madrid fans and also of the club.”

One to watch

Maximiliano Araújo started his career as a right-back, but earned his first move abroad, to Puebla in Mexico, thanks to his qualities as a winger. His performances in Mexico prompted a transfer to Toluca and opened the door to Europe with Sporting, where he has returned to his roots as a right-back. Bielsa took a gamble when selecting the defender for the first time in 2023, but he has been one of the success stories of his spell in charge. Araújo offered the qualities Bielsa was looking for in his wingers – the ability to beat his defender one-on-one and overload the opposition.

Unsung hero

Federico Viñas. The Real Oviedo striker could get his chance to shine due to the dip in form of Núñez, Bielsa’s main goal threat. Viñas’s story is one of sacrifice. He walked away from football at 15 before returning to the sport two years later.

He broke through in Uruguay’s second tier and was bought by an América side looking for a bargain buy up front. After a spell at Club León he has spent the past two years in Spain and helped Real Oviedo win promotion to La Liga, scoring nine times in the top flight this season.

Probable starting XI

What to expect from fans at games?

Uruguay’s group games are spread across the US and Mexico, with plenty of sky blue-clad supporters expected in both countries. Those travelling to North America will be joined by those who migrated there long before this tournament, making a reunion of sorts between natives and expats. About 10,000 supporters are expected to attend matches in the US, which is impressive for a country of 3 million people.

Relationship with the US/Trump?

Uruguay’s centre-left ruling party, Frente Amplio, has criticised Donald Trump for his threats to take control of Cuba. The US president said in early May that the island could be taken over “almost immediately” as he signed an executive order significantly expanding US sanctions on the Cuban government and its affiliates. Ampliosaid: “Threats of military intervention will once again jeopardise the peace of the continent”. The Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, meanwhile, is home to the only Trump Tower in South America, with construction completed in 2022.

Written by Luis Inzaurralde for El Observador.