The Uruguay men’s soccer team encountered another security challenge upon arriving in Miami for their opening match of the FIFA World Cup. They previously faced issues with their flight from Mexico to the U.S. due to paperwork delays.
A video surfaced on social media showing the team waiting outside their bus while security officers, accompanied by sniffer dogs, inspected their luggage. Some players appeared relaxed, smiling, whereas others, like Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte, displayed a more serious demeanor.
While the video’s exact location and time remain unclear, well-known players such as Ronald Araújo were recognizable during this security stop. They were dressed in outfits seen on broadcasts before the match against Saudi Arabia started. Newsweek reached out to the Uruguayan Football Association seeking comments about this incident and any further travel delays.
The team proceeded to draw 1-1 against Saudi Arabia but had faced complications traveling to the U.S. Initially, the squad was scheduled to fly from Cancún, near their training base at Playa del Carmen, to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon. Their departure was postponed due to administrative issues — a FIFA-arranged flight reportedly didn’t have the necessary paperwork — leaving them stranded in Mexico as delays affected their replacement flight as well.
A spokesperson from the team informed The Athletic that FIFA was responsible for the delay, but FIFA attributed it to an airline permitting error.
A statement from FIFA said, “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed. The airline has apologized for the inconvenience caused.” It further stated, “FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.”
This story is still developing and updates will follow.
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