World champions coming to India: Forlán names Valverde, Núñez-led Uruguay team for historic encounter

ByTech Word News

Uruguay Team (Image: Uruguay National Team) NEW DELHI: India’s historic football date with Uruguay has taken on even more star power with two-time world champions Uruguay naming a provisional 46-man squad featuring some of the biggest names in world football for their September-October FIFA international window.Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez, Ronald Araújo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta are among the main names announced under new head coach Diego Forlan.Uruguay are set to face India on October 6 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, which promises to be one of the biggest football matches ever played on Indian soil. The match comes three days after India take on five-time world champions Brazil at the same venue.The Uruguay match is part of an unprecedented home window for India, with three 2026 World Cup participants – Panama, Brazil and Uruguay – taking on the Blue Tigers.

Valverde, headline Núñez on Forlán’s first list

Forlán, a legendary former Uruguay striker and 2010 FIFA World Cup Ballon d’Or winner, has retained much of the team’s experienced core while introducing some new faces.Real Madrid midfielder Valverde is among the most prominent selections along with Tottenham’s Bentancur and Lucas Torreira. Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araújo, Brian Rodríguez and Flamengo star De Arrascaeta are also there.Liverpool’s defensive group consists of Ronald Araújo, Giménez, Nahitan Nández, Guillermo Varela, Mathías Olivera and Sebastián Cáceres.Nunez is joined up front by Miguel Merentiel, Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Viñas, Martin Satriano and Alvaro Rodriguez.There are also several players on the list who could represent the beginning of a new generation under Forlán. Notable inclusions include Alexander Barboza, Santiago Mouriño, Diego Rossi and Facundo Bernal.The 46-man roster marks the start of Forlán’s tenure following the departure of Marcelo Bielsa. It features 20 of the 26 players who have represented Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although veteran Luis Suárez is notably absent.Forlán’s appointment adds another layer to India’s agenda. The 2011 Copa América winner scored 36 goals in 112 appearances for Uruguay and enjoyed distinguished club careers with Manchester United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan. He also played in the Indian Indian Super League for Mumbai City FC in 2016.India, meanwhile, will go into the encounter under the guidance of head coach Khalid Jamil, who has named a 26-man squad for the three high-profile friendlies. The Blue Tigers will face Panama first before taking on Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata.

India vs Panama friendly match brought forward

India’s first window facility also underwent a change in schedule. The friendly match against Panama, originally scheduled for September 26 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, has been postponed by a day to September 25.The change is related to the Bengaluru Marathon, which is scheduled for September 27 and will use the Kanteerava Stadium as its start and finish point. The adjusted date will give the organizers enough time to prepare the venue for the marathon.Ranked 44th in the world and participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Panama will now begin a tough series of matches in India on September 25. Brazil will follow on October 3 before Forlán’s Uruguay arrive in Kolkata for the blockbuster on October 6.

Uruguay Squad: FIFA International Window (September–October)

  • Goalkeepers: Santiago Mele (Junior), Cristopher Fiermarín (Defense and Justice), Ignacio de Arruabarrena (Arouca), Sebastián Jaume (Boston River), Thiago Cardozo (Unión)
  • Defenders: Kevin Amaro (Boston River), José Luis Rodríguez (Vasco da Gama), Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Nahitan Nández (Al-Qadsiah), Santiago Mouriño (Alavés), Nicolás Marichal (Dynamo Moscow), Ronald Araújo (Barcelona), Alexander Barboza (Botaménez Gilético Madrid), Juan RodíménAguez José (Boston River), Sebastián Boselli (Getafe), Santiago Bueno (Wolverhampton), Sebastián Cáceres (America), Mathías Olivera (Naples), Joaquín Piquerez (Palmeiras), Lucas Olaza (Krasnodar), Marcelo Saracchi (Boca Juniors), Juan Manuel Lutico Sanabr
  • Midfielders: Emiliano Martínez (Midtjylland), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Facundo Bernal (Fluminense), Santiago Homenchenko (Querétaro), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustín Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense), Matíassia Abalundo (G) (Panathinaikos), Luciano Rodríguez (Cruzeiro), Maximiliano Araújo (Sporting CP), Lucas Villalba (Botafogo), Brian Rodríguez (America), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
  • Forwards: Martín Satriano (Lens), Agustín A. Martínez (Defensor Sporting), Rodrigo Aguirre (America), Federico Viñas (Real Oviedo), Miguel Merentiel (Boca Juniors), Darwin Núñez (Liverpool), Álvaro Rodríguez (Getafe).