39-year-old striker left open the possibility of a return for the World Cup but has been snubbed by the manager
Coach Marcelo Bielsa has omitted Luis Suarez from Uruguay’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The manager opted against recalling Suarez despite the country’s second-most capped player indicating he would be willing to reverse his international retirement.
The 39-year-old is Uruguay’s record goalscorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances. He retired from international football in 2024 but left open the possibility of a return for the World Cup this summer. Suarez still plies his trade for Inter Miami in the MLS and has scored six times in 11 appearances this season.
However, Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte makes the squad despite a bench role for the Premier League club this season. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Wolves defender Santiago Bueno are the other Premier League players to make the Uruguay World Cup squad.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde has also been named after recovering from the injury that followed his training-ground fight with his club teammate Aurelien Tchouameni last month.
Former Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez is included despite a prolonged absence from club action. The striker has not featured for Al-Hilal since February after the Saudi Pro League side reshuffled their foreign-player registrations following the arrival of Karim Benzema.
Bielsa has also retained 39-year-old goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who has made 134 appearances for his country. Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez is another player who makes a strong Uruguay squad that beat both Brazil and Argentina during the South American qualifiers and will be hoping to advance deep into the World Cup knockouts this summer.
Uruguay is in Group H alongside Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. Their campaign begins against Saudi Arabia on 15 June before meetings with Cape Verde and group favourites Spain.
Uruguay squad for 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Santiago Mele (Junior FC)
Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (Club America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Atletico San Luis), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (SC Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting CP), Brian Rodriguez (Club America)
Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre (Club America), Federico Vinas (Real Oviedo), Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal)
