La Celeste bets on Forlán and his new technical staff

Uruguay has confirmed that Diego Forlán will coach the senior team's friendlies while the permanent head coach is decided. The former striker arrived in Montevideo on Tuesday and, the next day, was already at the Celeste Complex to start selecting his assistant for the U20 side, with the clear goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Uruguay is 3rd in World Cup, 2 pts, 0W-2D-1L from 3 games, recent form LDD.

Who are the candidates to join Forlán?

Forlán already has Diego "Ruso" Pérez secured as assistant, but a second coach is still needed. The names on the table are Santiago Espasandín (Nacional), Andrés Rodríguez (Defensor Sporting) and Diego Jaume (Boston River). The first two have already met at the national team training headquarters, while the meeting with Jaume is scheduled for the coming hours. Each brings knowledge of different local academies, which could enrich the youth squad.

What does this process mean for the U20?

The immediate aim is qualification for the 2026 World Cup after the South American tournament. With the experience of "Ruso" Pérez, who won the U20 World Cup in 2023 alongside Marcelo Broli, the AUF trusts that a mix of experience and youth will be decisive. Moreover, the AUF president noted that Korea and Japan are already confirmed as opponents for the next FIFA date, with other options for October, November and March.

What is Uruguay's outlook in the tournament?

Uruguay's last result was a 0‑1 loss to Spain on 2026-06-27, leaving the team 5 points behind leaders Spain in the standings. Recent form shows 0W-4D-1L (LDDDD, most recent first). With Forlán in charge of the friendlies and the search for a solid technical staff, the hope is to reverse the streak and compete again for qualification spots.

What lies ahead for Forlán and the AUF?

After the 2026 World Cup ends, the decision on the permanent coach will be taken through "other channels," the AUF president explained. Meanwhile, Forlán will face the challenge of leading the U20 and eight senior matches between September and March, a schedule that will test his management and tactical vision. Attention now turns to the meeting with the third candidate and the final definition of the technical staff.