Marcelo Bielsa Excludes Luis Suárez from Uruguay’s World Cup Squad
Marcelo Bielsa has made the notable decision to exclude Luis Suárez from the Uruguay team set to compete in the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Suárez, who holds the record as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals and has earned 143 caps for his nation, hasn’t featured internationally since 2024. Despite demonstrating his abilities by netting six times in 11 appearances for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), his performance was insufficient to secure a place in Bielsa’s squad.
Significant Experience Omitted
Bielsa’s selection leaves out some significant experience, as only Diego Godín, who has accumulated 161 caps, has more appearances than Suárez for the national team. In contrast, veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has made the cut at 39 years old, bringing his 134 caps to the squad, while Atlético Madrid’s José María Giménez stands on the brink of achieving 100 caps.
An unexpected omission from the squad is Nahitan Nández, a versatile midfielder who played a key role during the qualification campaign. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde has returned to fitness after recently having a training incident with his teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. It appears Darwin Núñez, formerly of Liverpool, will spearhead the attack for the Celeste.
Uruguay’s Challenging Group
Uruguay finds itself in a challenging group alongside strong contenders Spain, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia. Here is the full list of players selected for Uruguay’s World Cup campaign:
Squad List
- Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes), Santiago Mele (Monterrey)
- Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araújo (Barcelona), José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastián Cáceres (Club America), Mathías Olivera (Napoli), Joaquín Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matías Viña (River Plate, on loan from Flamengo)
- Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martínez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustín Canobbio (Fluminese), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Fluminese), Nicolás de la Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araújo (Sporting CP), Brian Rodríguez (Club America)
- Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres), Federico Viñas (Real Oviedo), Darwin Núñez (Al Hilal)
This selection by Bielsa not only reflects strategic decisions for the tournament but also highlights the ongoing evolution of the Uruguayan national team as it prepares to compete on one of the biggest stages in football.
