Uruguay landed in Miami after its FIFA-provided charter flight from Mexico was delayed by a paperwork issue, adding a travel disruption before Monday's World Cup Group H match against Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium.
ESPN reported that Uruguay were traveling from their base camp in Playa del Carmen to South Florida when the departure was held up Sunday because documentation required for the charter flight was missing. The Uruguay federation said the squad remained at the hotel while FIFA reset the departure time for 4:15 p.m.
FIFA Cites Airline Permitting Error In Mexico
FIFA later said the delay was caused by an airline permitting error in Mexico for the Cancun-to-Miami flight, according to ESPN. The governing body said it stayed in contact with Uruguay and worked with airport and operational partners to reduce disruption to the team's travel.
The article did not report a safety issue with the flight or any change to Uruguay's match schedule. It described the matter as a permitting and documentation problem that delayed the team's arrival and press conference.
Uruguay subsequently landed in Miami and held the delayed media session with coach Marcelo Bielsa and captain Jose Maria Gimenez.
Bielsa Says Saudi Arabia Preparation Is Intact
Bielsa said the flight situation would cause no problem for Uruguay before the Saudi Arabia match, ESPN reported. Gimenez acknowledged complications but said the team used the delay to rest at the hotel.
That matters because Uruguay's first World Cup checkpoint arrives quickly. ESPN's World Cup scoreboard lists Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for Monday at 22:00 UTC at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Group H also includes Cape Verde and Spain, making the opener an immediate part of a group with little room for administrative noise. Uruguay do not need a travel story to become the defining note of their tournament week.
Group H Opener Still On The Schedule
The verified match listing keeps the practical impact narrow for now: a delayed flight, a delayed press conference and an unchanged opener. There was no ESPN report of a player injury, lineup change or formal schedule alteration tied to the travel issue.
For Uruguay, that is the useful part of an awkward day. The team got to Miami, Bielsa addressed the disruption, and the next public test is still the one already on the fixture list against Saudi Arabia.