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No Charter Flight Home for Disgraced Uruguay Squad
29 Jun
Summary
- Uruguay crashed out of the World Cup group stage without a win.
- Federation cancelled team's charter flight home after exit.
- Coach Bielsa takes responsibility for disappointing performance.

The Uruguay national football team endured a disappointing conclusion to their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey, crashing out in the group stage. Finishing at the bottom of Group H, the team failed to secure a single victory, drawing against Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia before a decisive 0-1 loss to Spain. This early elimination reportedly prompted the Uruguayan football federation to take a severe measure.
Following the squad's performance, the federation allegedly cancelled the team's scheduled charter flight. Players were consequently required to make their own travel arrangements, returning home on separate commercial flights rather than as a unified group. This decision highlighted the severity of the federation's reaction to the team's failure.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa expressed his disappointment, reflecting on his three-year tenure with the national side. He questioned the lasting impact of his work, stating that a lack of results meant he had "left Uruguayan football nothing." This World Cup marks Bielsa's second group stage exit, having previously experienced a similar outcome with Argentina in 2002.