Uruguay's Trip to Miami for World Cup Opener Faces Delay
Uruguay's journey to the United States for their FIFA World Cup campaign opener against Saudi Arabia encountered a delay on Sunday due to an error concerning the necessary flight documents, according to Reuters.
The flight was postponed for several hours as some paperwork required by world football's governing body, FIFA, could not be prepared in time for takeoff.
The two-time World Cup champions, who are based in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, were scheduled to travel to Miami for their Group H opener against Saudi Arabia on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium. Their subsequent group matches include a game against tournament debutants Cape Verde on June 21 and a clash with 2010 champions Spain on June 26 in Zapopan, Mexico.
The delay may also lead to the cancellation of the pre-match press conference featuring coach Marcelo Bielsa and captain Jose Maria Gimenez.
Neither the Uruguayan Football Association nor FIFA has issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Uruguay, winners of the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950, have experienced mixed results this century. Their performances include group-stage exits in 2002 and 2022, a fourth-place finish in 2010, failure to qualify in 2006, a round-of-16 appearance in 2014, and a quarterfinal finish in 2018.
Meanwhile, Iran's national football team has arrived in the United States, landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday ahead of their World Cup opener against New Zealand on Monday.
Earlier, the Iranian team received an enthusiastic send-off from fans as they departed their base camp in Tijuana. Supporters lined the sidewalk outside the team's hotel, chanting 'Team Melli' (Persian for 'national team') as players boarded the team bus.
