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Dreams of Luis Suarez taking part in his final World Cup have come to an end after coach Marcelo Bielsa decided not to include him in Uruguay’s official squad for the 2026 tournament.

The Uruguayan Football Federation announced the list of 26 players who will represent La Celeste at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday, 31 May 2026.

The biggest talking point from the announcement was undoubtedly the absence of Luis Suarez from the final line-up.

The 39-year-old veteran striker failed to follow in the footsteps of his Inter Miami teammate, Lionel Messi, who will feature in his final World Cup before retiring from international football.

Despite Suarez’s invaluable contributions to Uruguay, Bielsa decided to move forward without him, showing no interest in nostalgia for the nation’s all-time top scorer.

In attack, the coach—nicknamed “El Loco”—opted to bring only three strikers: Darwin Nunez, Federico Vinas, and Rodrigo Aguirre. Although their records do not match Suarez’s illustrious career, Bielsa appears confident in their potential.

Nunez, the former Liverpool forward who struggled to make an impact in the Premier League, now plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Vinas was recently relegated from Spain’s top division with Real Oviedo, while Aguirre currently plays in Mexico’s Liga MX.

Suarez, however, remains a living legend for Uruguay, having scored 69 goals in 143 international appearances—making him the country’s all-time leading scorer.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona star had officially retired from international duty in 2024 but began reconsidering his decision earlier this year. He stated that he was open to returning to the national team if his experience was needed to guide younger players.

“I would never refuse a call-up if they needed me, especially with the World Cup coming up,” Suarez said at the time, as quoted by Voetbal International. “Back then, I stepped away to give the younger generation a chance. I said things I shouldn’t have said.”

“I’ve already apologised to those who deserved an apology,” added the 2013–2014 Premier League Golden Boot winner.

As a result, Uruguay will play their first World Cup without Suarez since their return to the tournament in 2010. This decision comes despite his continued sharpness at club level, where he recently scored a hat-trick in Inter Miami’s 6–4 win over Philadelphia Union in the MLS. Suarez’s performance was crucial, especially since Lionel Messi had to leave the match early due to injury on 25 May 2026.

Before Suarez’s departure, Uruguay had already lost his long-time strike partner, Edinson Cavani, who retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup.

In the 2026 World Cup squad, Bielsa has placed significant trust in Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, who is expected to be the heartbeat of the team’s play.

Interestingly, while Suarez has been left out, veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has retained his place in the squad. The 39-year-old is set to make his fifth World Cup appearance in North America. Muslera is one of the few remaining players from the 2010 squad that finished fourth in South Africa.

For the 2026 World Cup, Uruguay has been drawn into Group H alongside Spain, Saudi Arabia, and debutants Cape Verde.

Uruguay 2026 World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes), Santiago Mele (Monterrey)

Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (CF America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (River Plate)

Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake City), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting), Brian Rodriguez (CF America)

Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres), Federico Vinas (Real Oviedo), Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal)