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Uruguay's President Orsi cancels World Cup trip after initial approval

Uruguay's President Orsi cancels World Cup trip after initial approval

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi has withdrawn his request to travel to the United States for the World Cup opening match.
  • Orsi had previously sought parliamentary authorization to leave the country for more than 48 hours.
  • He cited "reasons of force majeure" for his decision to cancel the trip.

Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi has officially informed Parliament that he will not be traveling to the United States to attend the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite earlier intentions. Orsi submitted a note to the legislative body requesting that his previous application for travel authorization be "nullified."

Just days prior, on June 4, Orsi had expressed his intention to attend the match and subsequently sent a request to legislators. The Uruguayan Constitution requires parliamentary approval for the head of state to be absent from the country for more than 48 hours. His initial confirmation, "Yes, I am going," was made during the official presentation of the national flag to the Uruguayan team, coached by Marcelo Bielsa.

However, on Monday, the President sent a second communication canceling his planned trip to Miami. Sources within Parliament indicated that Orsi cited "reasons of force majeure" as the justification for his change of plans. This decision marks a significant reversal from his earlier commitment.

Earlier on Saturday, Orsi had already hinted at his reconsideration, stating that he was "mulling over" the decision and "reconsidering going or not going." He mentioned factors such as the proximity to the upcoming "Rendición de Cuentas" (Accountability Report), a significant governmental duty, as a reason for his hesitation. The final decision to cancel the trip suggests that these internal deliberations and external pressures led him to prioritize his domestic responsibilities.

Sí, voy a ir

— Yamandú OrsiPresident Orsi's initial confirmation of his intention to travel to the World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.