Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Squad, Manager, Fixtures & Tournament History

Uruguay are heading to the FIFA World Cup™ for the fifteenth time — and the fifth in a row since their memorable return to the global stage with a fourth-place finish at South Africa 2010. La Celeste arrive at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Canada, Mexico and the United States at a moment of transition, but transition has never dimmed Uruguayan ambition.

The retirements of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez have closed the book on one of the country's golden generations. A new chapter is beginning, written by a squad built around Federico Valverde and shaped by the tactical imagination of Marcelo Bielsa. For a nation that has won the World Cup twice — and hosted its very first edition — expectation is never far from the surface.

The Coach: Marcelo Bielsa

Bielsa needs little introduction. Admired by peers across the game as one of the defining influences on modern football, the 70-year-old Argentine arrives at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ for his third appearance as a head coach — a career arc that has taken in some of the sport's most storied institutions and most dramatic moments.

At Korea/Japan 2002, he endured a painful group-stage exit with Argentina. He responded by guiding Chile to their first World Cup in 12 years, steering them to South Africa 2010 where they progressed from the group before falling 3-0 to Brazil in the round of 16. Successful spells at Athletic Club, Olympique de Marseille and Leeds United followed before he returned to the international stage with Uruguay. The qualifying campaign had its turbulence — including a dip in form that tested belief — but Bielsa steadied the ship, and a commanding performance against Peru at the Estadio Centenario in September confirmed their place at the tournament in style.

Uruguay's 2026 World Cup Fixtures & Group

15 June: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Miami Stadium

21 June: Uruguay v Cabo Verde – Miami Stadium

26 June: Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Guadalajara

How Uruguay Qualified

Uruguay finished fourth in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings — one of four teams to finish on 28 points, just a single point behind Ecuador in second place and ten behind table-toppers and reigning world champions Argentina. The campaign showcased both the promise and the inconsistency of this transitional side. At their best, they were electric — beating Brazil in Montevideo and inflicting a surprise defeat on world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires at the end of 2023. A subsequent dip tested patience, but they found their footing again down the stretch to confirm direct qualification with something to spare.

Uruguay's World Cup Record

Confederation: CONMEBOL

Best Finish: Champions (1930, 1950)

Last Appearance: Qatar 2022 (Group stage)

First Appearance: Uruguay 1930 (Winners)

Total Appearances: 15 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)

Current run of successive qualifications: 5

Hosted the World Cup: 1930 (winners)

Overall Record: P59 W25 D13 L21 F89 A76

Uruguay's Best World Cup: Uruguay 1930 & Brazil 1950

Uruguay's first two World Cup appearances remain their greatest — and together they form the foundation of the country's footballing identity. As hosts of the inaugural tournament in 1930, they defeated Peru, hammered Romania 4-0, swept aside Yugoslavia 6-1 in the semi-finals — including a José Pedro Cea hat-trick — before coming from 2-1 down at half-time against Argentina in the final to win 3-2 and claim the first World Cup title in history.

Twenty years later, at Brazil 1950, they did something even more improbable. Having opened with an 8-0 demolition of Bolivia — Óscar Míguez helping himself to a hat-trick — they reached the final group stage needing to beat the hosts at the Maracanã to be crowned champions. What followed has been known ever since as the Maracanazo. In front of a crowd officially recorded at 173,850 — and widely believed to have exceeded 200,000 — Uruguay came from behind through Juan Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia to silence an entire nation and lift the trophy for the second time. "Only three people have managed to silence the Maracanã," Ghiggia said years later. "The Pope, Frank Sinatra, and me."

Uruguay's Last World Cup: Qatar 2022

Uruguay arrived in Qatar under Diego Alonso with familiar ambitions, but the group stage proved unforgiving. An opening goalless draw with Korea Republic was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Portugal, Bruno Fernandes scoring twice to leave La Celeste needing results to go their way. They delivered their part — a 2-0 win over Ghana through a Giorgian de Arrascaeta brace — but Hwang Hee-chan's stoppage-time winner for Korea Republic against Portugal eliminated Uruguay on goal difference. They went home without a knockout-round appearance, their tournament over almost before it had begun.

Uruguay's First World Cup: Uruguay 1930

Uruguay hold the honour of being the game's first-ever World Cup hosts and champions. Their opening match at the iconic Estadio Centenario produced a 1-0 win over Peru, followed by a 4-0 victory over Romania to set up a semi-final against Yugoslavia — dispatched 6-1 in a performance of total authority. The final against Argentina delivered a classic: Uruguay came from 2-1 down at half-time to score three second-half goals and claim football's first world title.

Uruguay's All-Time World Cup Top Scorer

Óscar Míguez remains Uruguay's leading scorer at the World Cup with eight goals across the 1950 and 1954 tournaments. He began with a hat-trick in the 8-0 opening win over Bolivia, added two more in a 3-2 victory over Sweden, and was on the scoresheet again in Switzerland four years later — netting against Czechoslovakia and scoring a brace in a 7-0 win over Scotland before Uruguay's semi-final defeat to Hungary ended their quest for a third title.

Uruguay's Most Capped World Cup Player

Cavani holds the record with 17 World Cup appearances across four tournaments, a testament to the longevity of one of his generation's finest strikers. He played all six matches at South Africa 2010, four each at Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, and three more at Qatar 2022 — scoring five goals along the way — before retiring from international football in May 2024.

Uruguay's Most Memorable World Cup Moments

The Maracanazo stands alone. The match at the Maracanã in 1950 — a comeback win over Brazil in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a World Cup game — is not merely Uruguay's greatest footballing moment but one of the most extraordinary events in the history of sport. A nation's dream, extinguished. Another nation's belief, vindicated against every expectation. It reverberates still.

Beyond 1950, the 8-0 victory over Bolivia that launched their title-winning campaign that same year remains their biggest-ever World Cup win — Míguez, Schiaffino, Ghiggia and others combining to produce a performance of devastating, joyful authority from the eventual champions.