Uruguay group-stage exit puts Palmeiras pair in World Cup 'Clube do Zero'

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·28 June 2026

Uruguay group-stage exit puts Palmeiras pair in World Cup 'Clube do Zero'

Uruguay's early exit from the 2026 World Cup has placed Palmeiras duo Joaquín Piquerez and Emiliano Martínez in the club's so-called 'Clube do Zero', the group of players called up for the tournament but unused.

According to Nosso Palestra, Uruguay failed to win in the group stage, drawing with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and losing to Spain, a run that ended their campaign and denied the pair a debut.

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They now sit alongside Rodrigues Tatu, from 1954, Zequinha in 1962, Leão and Baldochi in 1970, Cesar Maluco in 1974, and Leão again in 1986, all called up but unused at World Cups.

A World Cup call-up remains a major career achievement, yet for Piquerez and Martínez this edition is marked by no minutes and by Uruguay's first-phase elimination.

Their wait for a World Cup debut continues.

Source: Nosso Palestra