Uruguay Kicks Off World Cup Journey
Uruguay Arrives in Miami for World Cup Debut Against Saudi Arabia After Flight Delay
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Uruguay arrived in South Florida late Sunday night for its World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia — but only after its chartered plane was grounded in Cancun for hours due to missing documentation required to enter U.S. airspace. AP reported the team touched down with roughly 24 hours to spare before a 6:00 PM kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The Uruguayan Football Association blamed FIFA for the fiasco. FIFA, in turn, called it an "airline permitting error in Mexico" and said it worked with partners to "minimize disruption." Either way, Uruguay missed its scheduled stadium walk-through and a mandatory pre-match press conference — both pushed back as the team sat stranded at a resort in Playa del Carmen.
Aircraft Lacked U.S. Entry Clearance, Forcing Hours-Long Wait
The Uruguayan squad had trained in Cancun that morning and arrived at Cancun International Airport ready to fly. Then the news hit: their chartered aircraft did not have the permits needed to enter U.S. airspace. Players and staff returned to the Fairmont Mayakoba Hotel in Playa del Carmen to wait. The original departure time of 4:15 PM ET came and went, according to AP.
A replacement flight was eventually arranged. Uruguay finally landed in South Florida late Sunday night. The AUF released a statement saying the delay stemmed from "problems beyond the control of the AUF" and pointed directly at FIFA as the responsible party, AP reported.
Bielsa Stays Calm, Captain Says the Team Got Extra Rest
Coach Marcelo Bielsa told reporters the flight issues "caused no problem" for the team. Bielsa, known for demanding clockwork precision from his players, kept his public comments brief and composed at a rescheduled press conference that ran hours behind schedule.
Captain and defender José MarÃa Giménez struck an upbeat tone. "We had some complications," he said, "but we actually took advantage of it because we were able to rest at the hotel." Not everyone agreed that extra hotel hours were a fair trade for missing a turf session at the match venue, according to AP.
48-Team World Cup's Border Headaches on Full Display
The 2026 World Cup is the first ever with 48 teams, spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Uruguay chose Playa del Carmen as its base camp to train in heat and humidity similar to Miami's summer weather. But crossing from a Mexican hub into U.S. airspace requires separate federal aviation clearances — a bureaucratic layer that caught this delegation off guard.
Critics of the expanded tournament format say this incident is a preview of bigger problems to come. Teams based in Mexico or Canada will face the same border-crossing friction during the knockout rounds. FIFA may now need to tighten its airline permitting oversight before those higher-stakes matches arrive.
Uruguay Enter as Heavy Favorites Despite the Travel Drama
On the field, Uruguay remain clear favorites. Oddsmakers list them at -215 to win Monday's match, while Saudi Arabia sits at +631 — a longshot. Hard Rock Stadium, temporarily renamed "Miami Stadium" for the tournament, holds 65,326 fans and is expected to sell out for Match 13 of Group H.
The AUF could still face fines from FIFA for the late press conference, even as the AUF publicly blames FIFA for causing the delay. Uruguay arrived with less than a full day to settle in — far less preparation time on-site than Saudi Arabia had. Whether that matters on the pitch is the only question left.
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