Marco Bielsa announced Uruguay's official 26-man World Cup roster on Sunday, featuring Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, Barcelona center back Ronald Araújo and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte.
The veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was pulled out of retirement, named to his fifth World Cup (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)—a Uruguayan record—after previously retiring in 2024 with 133 caps and a 2011 Copa América win.
However, Luis Suárez was notably omitted. The 37-year-old striker, Uruguay's all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances, retired from international soccer in 2024 and did not earn a recall despite recent pleas.
Goalkeepers
- Sergio Rochet (Internacional)
- Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes)
- Santiago Mele (Monterrey)
Defenders
- Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
- Ronald Araújo (Barcelona)
- José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid)
- Santiago Bueno (Wolves)
- Sebastián Cáceres (Club América)
- Joaquín Piquerez (Palmeiras)
- Matías Viña (River Plate)
Midfielders
- Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United)
- Emiliano Martínez (Palmeiras)
- Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
- Agustín Canobbio (Fluminense)
- Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake)
- Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Fluminense)
- Nicolás de la Cruz (Flamengo)
- Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga)
- Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos)
- Maximiliano Araújo (Sporting CP)
- Brian Rodríguez (Club América)
- Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres)
- Federico Viñas (Real Oviedo)
Forwards
- Darwin Núñez (Al Hilal)
Luis Suárez Left Out After Recent Pleas
Suárez was not called up by La Celeste, meaning he will miss the World Cup for the first time since 2010. Although the Inter Miami striker announced his retirement from international duty in September 2024, he has recently made clear that he regrets closing that door.
"I wanted to be called up," the star said in early May. "Obviously, being Uruguayan, I would never turn down the national team. I stepped aside back then because I felt I needed to make way for the younger generation."
Suárez currently has six goals and four assists in seven starts this season for Inter Miami, proving himself indispensable. He is tied for second in Uruguay's World Cup history with 16 appearances, just one behind Edinson Cavani's record of 17.