Uruguay's national football team is experiencing a challenging start to their World Cup 2026 campaign, with the squad currently stranded in Mexico due to unforeseen flight complications. The team, led by manager Marcelo Bielsa, had travelled to Cancun for final preparations before their opening fixture against Saudi Arabia on Monday in Miami. However, their planned journey has been disrupted after their chartered aircraft reportedly lacked the necessary clearance to fly into the United States.
The root of the problem appears to be issues with the paperwork pertaining to the aircraft itself, which has prevented it from being approved for the route from Cancun to Miami. The Uruguayan contingent remains at the Mayakoba Complex, a resort situated approximately 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport, as they await updates on their revised travel arrangements.
The delay carries significant implications, particularly for manager Marcelo Bielsa. He is scheduled to attend a mandatory pre-match press conference at the Miami Stadium at 8pm EST on Sunday. With the team still grounded, it is looking increasingly probable that Bielsa will be unable to make this important media appointment, potentially drawing a fine from FIFA.
This incident is not an isolated one, highlighting a pattern of travel-related difficulties encountered by various teams and individuals heading to the US for the tournament. Previously, a Somalian referee, Omar Artan, was denied entry into the country due to unspecified 'vetting concerns', despite being an approved FIFA employee. Furthermore, Palestine's football chief, Jibril Rajoub, recently stated he is still awaiting permission to enter the US.
Other significant issues have included Iran's football federation claiming their fan ticket allocation has been revoked just a week before their first match, and Ghana's Thomas Partey being denied entry to Canada for their match against Panama due to past legal charges. Uruguay's initial group stage matches will see them play Saudi Arabia on 15th June and Cape Verde on 21st June, both in Miami, before travelling back to Mexico for their final group game against Spain on 27th June.