According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, USA Today reported that the team experienced complications with their U.S. entry paperwork, which delayed their departure from their training camp in Cancun, Mexico, to Miami. Consequently, the official press conference for head coach Marcelo Bielsa was also postponed.
FIFA attributed the delays to technical issues related to flight permissions. However, the Uruguayan team claims that the delays were due to documentation problems for which they hold FIFA responsible.
Reports indicate that the team spent a significant amount of time waiting at their accommodation before boarding their flight. Uruguay is scheduled to play their first match in Group H against Saudi Arabia on June 16 in Miami.
This incident is seen as part of ongoing discussions regarding entry issues for the 2026 World Cup.
Previously, Somali-born international referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the U.S., and it was reported that only some support staff for the Iranian team received entry permits. Additionally, Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, also faced entry denial.
These incidents have raised concerns about the strict entry examinations maintained by the U.S. for international sporting events, even as a co-host of the World Cup. Some critics argue that FIFA should have taken a more proactive role in coordinating entry procedures for participating teams and officials.
Uruguay will play matches in the group stage against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in the U.S., with their final match against Spain scheduled to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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