Uruguay open their World Cup 2026 on Monday, June 15 against Saudi Arabia in Miami Gardens — the first World Cup of the Marcelo Bielsa era, and the first since 2010 without Luis Suárez on the squad list. Here is the complete Group H guide: fixtures in ET, the roster, and how to watch in the US.
Group H: the lay of the land
The draw placed Uruguay in Group H with Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Two winnable Miami matches set up the headliner: Uruguay against the European champions on June 26 in Guadalajara, in what is probably the strongest single fixture of the entire group stage.
The Miami double-header is a gift — Hard Rock Stadium sits in the most Uruguayan-friendly market in the US, and the team does not travel at all until the Spain finale in Mexico.
Uruguay fixtures: Group H schedule (ET)
Every Uruguay group-stage match, with venues and Eastern Time kickoffs from the official tournament schedule.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, June 15 | Saudi Arabia | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 6:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Sun, June 21 | Cape Verde | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens | 6:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Fri, June 26 | Spain | Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Guadalajara), Mexico | 8:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
The Guadalajara closer brings altitude into play — Estadio Akron sits well above 5,000 feet, one of the variables we quantified in our heat and altitude analysis.
The squad: Bielsa’s 26
Marcelo Bielsa named his squad on May 31 around a Real Madrid engine: Federico Valverde is the captain-in-fact and the team’s best player, with Ronald Araújo marshaling the back line and Manuel Ugarte screening midfield. In goal, 39-year-old Fernando Muslera returned from international retirement for one last tournament.
The omission made headlines across South America: no Luis Suárez. The all-time record scorer was left out, ending a streak of four straight World Cups. Darwin Núñez, now playing in Saudi Arabia, carries the No. 9 burden.
World Cup pedigree
Two titles — the inaugural 1930 tournament at home and the 1950 Maracanazo, still the most famous upset in the sport’s history and a fixture in our ranking of the biggest World Cup upsets. For a nation of 3.4 million people, Uruguay’s sustained World Cup relevance remains a statistical outlier with no parallel.
Tactical profile
Bielsa’s Uruguay press man-to-man across the entire pitch — the highest-risk defensive scheme in the tournament and the most physically demanding. When it works, opponents cannot complete three passes; the cost is enormous running volume and exposure to direct balls over the top.
In possession the team is vertical to a fault: third-fewest passes per attacking sequence among the South American qualifiers, with Valverde’s long diagonals as the primary progression tool. Expect chaos, in both directions.
How to watch in the USA
Every Uruguay match airs in English on FOX or FS1 with streaming on the FOX Sports app; Spanish-language coverage runs on Telemundo or Universo, with all matches streaming on Peacock.
Our US broadcast guide has the complete breakdown; the official squad announcement is on FIFA’s official site.
FAQ
When does Uruguay play their first World Cup 2026 match?
Uruguay open against Saudi Arabia on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Is Luis Suárez in Uruguay’s World Cup 2026 squad?
No. Marcelo Bielsa left Suárez out of the 26-man squad announced May 31, 2026 — Uruguay’s first World Cup without him since South Africa 2010.
Who is in Uruguay’s World Cup 2026 group?
Group H contains Uruguay, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Uruguay play Saudi Arabia June 15 and Cape Verde June 21 in Miami Gardens, then Spain June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
What channel are Uruguay matches on in the USA?
In English on FOX or FS1 (FOX Sports app for streaming); in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, with every match streaming on Peacock.