Uruguay Adjusts Squad as Bielsa Plans Around Key Absences for South American Qualifiers

With the June international break approaching, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa is already working behind closed doors at the Celestes Complex with several players released early by their clubs. The official squad list for the South American Qualifiers will be unveiled in the coming days, but initial sessions have begun under strict discretion.

La Celeste will travel to Paraguay on Wednesday, June 4, for the match in Asunción the following night. Then, they’ll host Venezuela at Montevideo’s Centenario Stadium on Tuesday, June 10, in Matchdays 15 and 16 of the road to the 2026 World Cup.

Uruguay will be missing several key players. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended for the Paraguay game but will be available for Venezuela. Darwin Núñez is serving a three-match ban stemming from a Copa América incident and won’t return until the final Qualifier in September. Injuries will also sideline Nicolás de la Cruz (knee), Federico Valverde (sciatica), and Federico Viñas (knee ligament), who was a likely replacement for Núñez.