Uruguay soccer team arrives in US after flight delay before World Cup match

Uruguay National Team Arrives in Miami Ahead of World Cup Match

The Uruguay national soccer team has arrived in Miami, Florida, with less than 24 hours to spare before their Group H match against Saudi Arabia at Miami Gardens Stadium. The squad and support staff landed in Miami on Sunday, following a travel ordeal that began in Mexico.

According to the Uruguay Football Association (AUF), the team’s departure from Cancun was delayed due to administrative issues, including missing paperwork. FIFA, which is responsible for all travel-related matters at the 48-team World Cup, had to scramble to arrange a new flight.

The team was initially unable to enter the US, but a second plane from South Florida was dispatched to pick up the squad. The players waited at a resort outside Cancun until the arrival of the new plane.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and team captain Jose Maria Gimenez missed a scheduled news conference on Sunday due to the issue. However, they attended the rescheduled event in South Florida.

FIFA released a statement saying that an airline permitting error in Mexico caused the delay, and that the organization worked closely with airport and operational partners to expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.

Uruguay will face Saudi Arabia at Miami Gardens Stadium on Monday at 6pm (22:00 GMT), with less than 24 hours to settle in before kickoff. The other members of Group H, Spain and Cape Verde, will play in Atlanta on Monday.

Source: Al Jazeera