Uruguay Unveils World Cup Squad with Emotional Bielsa Video, Two Key Absences Noted

Uruguay has officially announced its 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, accompanied by a creatively produced video that has captured national attention. The video, which features coach Marcelo Bielsa on a bicycle and is set to the song "Cielo de un solo color" by the renowned Uruguayan band No Te Va Gustar, was presented by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) on Sunday morning.

The cinematic presentation begins in a small Uruguayan town, with a hooded figure on a bicycle delivering a newspaper to a bar. The video gradually reveals the surnames of the selected players, integrated into various elements of the town's landscape, such as cafes, posters, and walls. The song choice, "Cielo de un solo color," is significant as its lyrics symbolize Uruguay and a period of crisis the country faced in the early 2000s. The AUF reported that this song was chosen through a poll where over 900,000 fans participated, with 70% voting in favor.

The video also includes cameos from several Uruguayan celebrities, including former footballer Wilmar Cabrera, actress Danna Liberman, musicians Edú “Pitufo” Lombardo and Charly Sosa, and racing driver Santiago Urrutia. The clip culminates with a voice shouting "Vamos que somos 3 millones" (Let's go, we are 3 million), followed by Bielsa nodding approvingly as he continues his ride.

Among the selected players, goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and left-back Matías Viña are the only ones currently playing in Argentina. However, the squad will notably be without Nahitan Nández, a key player during Bielsa's tenure, and Lucas Torreira of Galatasaray. Uruguay is set to compete in Group H of the World Cup, with their opening match scheduled for June 15 against Saudi Arabia, followed by games against Cape Verde and an as-yet-unnamed opponent.