Luis Suarez dropped from Uruguay’s World Cup squad as Valverde, Nunez make the cut
Marcelo Bielsa has made the biggest selection of Uruguay’s World Cup campaign, leaving veteran Luis Suarez out of his final 26-man squad. The former Barcelona and Liverpool striker, Uruguay’s all-time top scorer, was among the notable omissions when Bielsa introduced his squad on Sunday.
While Suarez misses out on a place at the tournament, midfield star Federico Valverde and forward Darwin Nunez lead a young squad that reflects Bielsa’s long-term vision for the national team.
Suarez, 39, has yet to fully close a chapter in his international career despite announcing his retirement from the Uruguayan service. The veteran forward recently indicated that he would be willing to return should the national team require his services during the World Cup.
However, Bielsa decided against recalling the striker, who had been absent from the international squad for almost 20 months. The decision comes months after Suarez publicly criticized the Argentina coach’s management style, claiming he had created divisions in the dressing room.
“I left the national team to make room for other players and because I felt that the moment had come when I could no longer be of use to the team. But if they need me, I will never say no to the national team. That is impossible as long as I am still playing, as long as I remain active,” Suarez said earlier this year, leaving open the possibility of a return despite retiring from international football.
The relationship between player and coach appeared strained after Suarez accused Bielsa of creating a difficult environment in the team. Although the former striker later said he apologized for the remarks, it was not enough to convince Bielsa to include him in his World Cup plans.
The omission of Suarez was not the only major point of discussion from the announcement of the team. Nahitan Nandez, another experienced international who featured regularly during the qualifying campaign, was also left out as Bielsa continued his transition to a younger core.
BIELSA SUPPORTS YOUTH TO THE WORLD CUP
The squad selection underlines Bielsa’s determination to build the squad around players in their prime rather than relying on seasoned veterans. Uruguay’s defensive core will be led by Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez and Mathias Olivera, who provide a mix of leadership and physicality at the back.
He has Bielsa in midfield he put his faith in the dynamic group in which Federico Valverde wasRodrigo Bentancur, Manuel Ugarte and Nicolas de la Cruz. The quartet embody the high-intensity pressing style and relentless work-rate that have become a hallmark of Biels’ teams throughout his managerial career.
Leading the charge will be Darwin Nunez, who remains Uruguay’s main goalscoring threat despite a difficult club season. The striker has not featured for Al-Hilal since February after the Saudi Pro League side reorganized their foreign player registrations following the arrival of Karim Benzema.
Despite concerns over his lack of game time of late, Bielsa has retained faith in Nunez’s ability to lead the line on football’s biggest stage.
Uruguay have been drawn in Group H and will open their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on June 15. They then face Cape Verde before finishing the group stage against Spain in what is expected to be their toughest test.
With Suarez absent and a new generation in the spotlight, Bielsa’s Uruguay head into the tournament hoping their youthful energy can compensate for the loss of one of the best footballers in the country’s history. Uruguay announced their squad for the World Cup (Photo: Screen grab from X)
SQUAY URUGUAY AT THE 2026 WC
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet, Fernando Muslera, Santiago Mele
Defenders: Guillermo Varela, Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Santiago Bueno, Sebastian Caceres, Mathias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez, Matias Vina
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Emiliano Martnez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Agustin Canobbio, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Nicolas De La Cruz, Rodrigo Zalazar, Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araujo, Brian Rodriguez
Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Vinas, Darwin Nunez
– The end
Published on:
1 Jun 2026 11:54 IST