Uruguay's charter flight denied US entry hours before World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia

Uruguay’s preparations for their 2026 World Cup opener were thrown into disarray on Sunday after the chartered aircraft carrying the squad from Cancun, Mexico, was refused permission to enter United States airspace, leaving the team scrambling for an alternative flight hours before their Group H clash with Saudi Arabia in Miami.

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) placed the blame squarely on FIFA for the travel fiasco, while FIFA in turn pointed the finger at the airline. In an official statement, FIFA said: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed. The airline has apologised for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimise disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.”

A replacement aircraft was subsequently arranged and the squad have since landed in Florida. Head coach Marcelo Bielsa and defender José María Giménez had also been scheduled to face the press on Sunday as part of pre-match preparations, though the logistical crisis overshadowed those plans.

The episode is not the first time Bielsa has clashed with tournament organisers on American soil. The Argentine coach was openly critical of the 2024 Copa América, which was also held in the United States, accusing CONMEBOL of failing to deliver on promises around training facilities and organisation.

“They do press conferences and say ‘No, the fields are perfect, the training pitches are perfect’… I have all the photos that show that these are all lies,” Bielsa said at the time.

Uruguay’s flight chaos arrives against a broader backdrop of scrutiny surrounding the 2026 World Cup’s organisation, with FIFA already facing criticism after publishing official attendance figures that were widely disputed amid reports of large numbers of empty seats at early fixtures.

Despite the disruption, Uruguay are expected to be fit and available for their Group H opener against Saudi Arabia in Miami on Monday.