Uruguay cancel squad flight after Copa exit, Flamengo trio hit

In partnership with

Coluna do Fla

·28. Juni 2026

Uruguay cancel squad flight after Copa exit, Flamengo trio hit

Uruguay would return on a charter flight, but now players will have to take commercial flights

Uruguay’s elimination in the World Cup group stage is one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far. And the topic is generating plenty of discussion. After the 1-0 loss to Spain on Friday (26), in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) had to reorganize the entire logistics of the delegation’s return. As a result, the players will leave North America on separate commercial flights, including the three Flamengo players called up for the tournament: Guillermo Varela, Nicolás De La Cruz, and Giorgian Arrascaeta.

Initially, the Uruguayan newspaper ‘El País’ reported that the federation had canceled a charter flight that would take the entire delegation back to Montevideo. However, a few hours after the news drew attention, the AUF released a statement clarifying the situation and denying that any charter flight had been planned for the return.

OneFootball Videos

“The outbound trip required an exclusive flight due to the size of the delegation (more than 150 people) and the need to transport more than 5,000 kg of luggage and equipment. As planned from the beginning, the return trip never considered the option of a charter flight, since the point of departure for the return was unknown,” the federation said. “At the end of the competition, a high percentage of the delegation travels directly to their countries of residence abroad to rejoin their respective clubs. For this reason, with the number of passengers significantly reduced, the remaining members of the official delegation will begin their journey home tomorrow, June 28, on commercial flights, as this is the fastest and most efficient way to reach their respective destinations. They will arrive on Monday in different groups,” the statement added.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FLAMENGO PLAYERS?

Among the players who will begin their return on commercial flights are Flamengo’s three representatives in the Uruguay squad: Varela, De La Cruz, and Arrascaeta. However, according to reporting by Coluna do Fla, through reporter Mônica Alves, the players will have ten days of vacation.

WHO WILL BE URUGUAY’S NEW COACH, THEN?

As coach Marcelo ‘El Loco’ Bielsa’s contract is valid only until the end of the World Cup, Uruguay is already looking for a new manager. The leading name is Marcelo Gallardo, runner-up in the 2019 Libertadores against Flamengo. The information comes from journalist German Garcia Grova of TYC Sports.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.