Confidence in the Uruguayan National Team ahead of the 2026 World Cup was once again evident following the statements of former full-back Jorge Fucile, who did not hesitate to affirm that La Celeste will travel to North America with a clear and ambitious objective. “We're going to be champions,” the former footballer asserted, in a phrase that sums up the expectation that, according to him, should accompany any team competing in a World Cup.

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Fucile's statements were featured on the DSports Summer: Road to the World Cup program on DGO Stream, where the former defender emphasized the mentality with which Uruguay will approach the tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For the former international, enthusiasm is not a burden, but a necessary condition to compete at the highest level. "The truth is, to be champions. What are we aiming for? We're going to be champions; the dream that all teams have is to be champions," he expressed.

A demanding group and the challenge of the debut

Uruguay will be in Group H of the 2026 World Cup, along with Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde. A group that Fucile considered demanding, although he also highlighted the special nature of the competition. "While it's the qualifiers, these are special matches; you're outside of everything, it's your moment, everyone's moment, it's your day, so you're going to enjoy it. It's not like in the qualifiers. As they say, the qualifiers are a struggle, and the World Cup is a joy," he explained. The schedule shows that La Celeste will debut against Saudi Arabia on June 15 in Miami. In that same city, they will play their second match against Cape Verde on June 21. The group stage will conclude against Spain on June 26 in Guadalajara. If they advance among the top two in the group, Uruguay will face a rival from Group J—comprised of Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan—in Los Angeles if they finish first, or they will return to Miami if they qualify in second place. Fucile,who played in the 2010 South Africa and 2014 Brazil World Cups,He emphasized that confidence and hope must be pillars of the World Cup journey. In that sense, I have maintained that the team must take on the challenge without inferiority complex, regardless of the obstacles.

Bielsa, Background and the Weight of History

The Uruguayan national team faces the 2026 World Cup under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa, in a process that has had moments of internal tension and inconsistent results. After securing qualification, the team went on an international tour with friendly victories against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan, a draw against Mexico, and a heavy 5-1 defeat against the United States. Added to this was an internal crisis stemming from differences between the Argentine coach and some of the players, a situation that forced a reorganization of the team's preparations for the World Cup.

Bielsa has managed Uruguay in 31 matches, with 16 wins, eight draws, and seven losses.

This will be his third World Cup experience, after managing Argentina in Korea-Japan 2002 and Chile in South Africa 2010, with a style recognizable for its attacking approach.