The selection of Uruguay This Monday, June 15, his adventure in the 2026 World Cup began against Saudi Arabiaa tournament he arrived at after a World Cup cycle full of ups and downs and with the hope of forgetting the painful elimination in the group stage of Qatar 2022where it was surpassed by the paintings of Portugal and South Korea.
The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, with capacity for 65 thousand spectators, kicked off the team’s participation charrúawho faced this match with the FC Barcelona central defender missing, Ronald Araújodue to an injury to the calf, and Giorgian de Arrascaetaalso due to problems in the calves.
However, the 2026 World Cup has not yet served as a rematch to Uruguay regarding Qatar, a tournament in which it was eliminated by a goal in injury time, given that the Sky blue tied their first game against Saudi Arabia after spending more than 40 minutes behind on the scoreboard against a team, in theory, lower.
This is because Uruguay faced this World Cup with the certainty that it could beat any selection, after defeating Brazil for the first time in 20 years Argentina for the first time as a visitor during the qualifiers, in which they qualified comfortably, but without brilliance. However, the day left more doubts than certainties.
Why didn’t Luis Suárez play?
The Uruguayan team appeared in this tournament without its all-time top scorer, Luis Suárez, for the first time in more than a decade, since the 2015 Copa América was the last national team tournament for which the Gunslinger was not summoned, due to the sanction he received for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil 2014.
According to what was stated by the coach Argentinean Marcelo Bielsathe forward of the Inter Miamiof 39 yearsit does not cross its best time in the Major League Soccer (MLS) of the USA. In addition, he had a media clash with the Uruguayan coaching staff in September of 2024although he later reconciled with him.
“At the time I took a step to the side because I saw that I had to make way for the more youths. I also said some things that I shouldn’t have said. I already excuse me to whom I should apologize,” added the Pistolero in September 2025, a year after his statements against the Argentine coach of 70 years, whom he had criticized.
Given the circumstances, in his absence, Uruguay’s goals fall to Darwin Núñez and Federico Viñas, although the direct style that technical director Marcelo Bielsa gives to the Uruguayan team also allows the midfielders to arrive from behind, as happened this Monday, June 15, against Saudi Arabia with Maximiliano Araújo.
The goodbye of Luis Suárez
Suárez officially said goodbye to the Celeste as the maximum Uruguay’s historic scorer, with 69 goals in 143 games. Likewise, the Gunslinger played 16 games in the World Cups and scored seven goals; Among the most important are the three he scored in South Africa 2010with which he helped the Charrúas reach fourth place.
On the other hand, although he did not manage to lead his team to a World Cup final, he was able to conquer the continent by lifting the Copa America 2011in which he scored four goals. Furthermore, 13 years later, Luis played his last tournament with Uruguay and was key for La Celeste to achieve third place in the 2024 Copa América.
⏹️ 𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝘿𝙀𝙇 𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙄𝘿𝙊@SaudiNT 1-1 @Uruguay
📺 https://t.co/l3PMoeWV5O#TheTeamThatUnites Us pic.twitter.com/Z0DbKFzhjx
— Uruguayan National Team (@Uruguay) June 16, 2026