Uruguay players walk from the sphere following the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Uruguay is off to a start many didn’t expect. After draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, and with a match against Spain still to come back, the two-time World Cup winner is prone to missing the knockout stage.
Amongst the numerous fans watching was someone the team looked to for goals for greater than 15 years: Luis Suárez.
The matches were played in Miami Stadium, near where Suárez serves as striker for Inter Miami. The 39-year-old watched from above as Uruguay struggled despite being heavily favored.
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Suárez ended his international profession in 2024 because the all-time leading scorer for the national team with 69 goals in 143 appearances. He was ultimately left off coach Marcelo Bielsa’s squad after months of speculation.
After the match, Bielsa spoke in regards to the team’s inability to capitalize on a few of its benefits.
“I believe that the issue or biggest issue is that we began the second half with the ball and with the victory,” Bielsa said through a translator after Sunday’s game. “And it was at that moment that we didn’t close it. We didn’t make any danger.”
Bielsa claimed his team “lacked a of completion” in Sunday night’s draw. Something that Suárez once delivered in his time with Uruguay.
Fans of Uruguay recognized how difficult it could be to exchange a player of Suárez’s caliber.
“(I actually have) mixed feelings to be honest,” Uruguay supporter Frederico Suárez said. “He’s old and now it’s time for the younger players. But he’s player, perhaps one of the best player I’ve ever watched with Uruguay.”
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In April, Luis Suárez announced he was willing to come back out of retirement to play for Uruguay within the World Cup. The announcement fueled speculation that Uruguay’s star could make one final appearance on soccer’s biggest stage. Bielsa as an alternative placed his faith in Uruguay’s next attacking generation, also excluding veteran striker Edinson Cavani from his roster.
“I feel like he’s a bit of older, so for players like Darwin (Núñez), I believe it just gives him a bit of bit more of a probability to shine,” Uruguay fan Ian Lancaster said.
In its first World Cup match without Suárez since 2010, Uruguay narrowly avoided an upset against Saudi Arabia with the team’s only goal coming late from midfielder Maxi Araújo. Nuñez and Federico Viñas led the front line but were largely ineffective.
Bielsa selected a unique lineup Sunday night, starting only Viñas to guide the attack. Midfielder Agustín Canobbio was added to the starting lineup against Cape Verde and made a difference, scoring Uruguay’s second goal.
It was Canobbio’s narrow miss within the second half, nevertheless, that would have given Uruguay a much-needed victory.
Suárez and Bielsa clashed after the 2024 Copa América when Suárez criticized Bielsa for the negative environment he had created under his leadership. Now, Bielsa and the Uruguay team will face further pressure to secure a win with an attack that has yet to dispel concerns.
All eyes might be on Uruguay on Friday as they travel to Guadalajara Stadium for a match against Spain.
“Our expectations with Uruguay now could be that we never know,” Uruguay fan Alfonso Aguel said. “We’d like to play every match, go match by match, and see what actually happens.”