The 2026 World Cup has already seen FIFA come under fire for a string of off-pitch issues.
Visa problems have been a recurring theme, most notably when Somali referee Omar Artan was reportedly denied entry to the United States.
Fans have also voiced frustration over ticket prices and US resale rules, while England had training equipment stolen ahead of their arrival in Kansas City, though most of it was later recovered.
In that climate, every new logistical problem adds to the noise around the tournament. And now Uruguay have reportedly been caught up in another organisational issue before their World Cup opener.
Uruguay travel issue disrupts build-up to Saudi Arabia opener
According to journalist Romain Molina, who has worked for The New York Times and BBC among other outlets, Uruguay’s flight to the US was delayed due to administrative problems.
With Uruguay set to face Saudi Arabia on Monday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the timing could hardly be worse. Molina reported that some documents were apparently missing, forcing a new flight to be arranged.
The issue also created tension between the Uruguayan federation and FIFA, according to the report.
The immediate impact was felt by Marcelo Bielsa, who had a press conference scheduled for Sunday. Because of the delay, that media duty was suspended.
That matters because missed official media obligations can lead to fines during major tournaments. It also leaves Uruguay dealing with an unwanted distraction before their debut.
FIFA will hope this proves to be a short-lived issue. But after so many controversies, another administrative delay only adds to the sense that this World Cup is fighting too many fires off the pitch.
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