Diego Forlán is set for his debut as Uruguay's interim head coach with a clear message of continuity. The former striker, who took over in early August, will rely on veterans from the 2026 World Cup squad for three friendlies in Asia during September and October. Uruguay, sitting third in their World Cup group with just two points from three games, is seeking a spark after a run of five official matches without a win.
Forlán, 47, has outlined his approach for these initial fixtures. The coach said he "will trust his references Federico Valverde and Darwin Núñez, as well as the majority of the players who competed in the North American World Cup." This decision marks the start of his tenure, which runs at least until March 2027, and represents the first step in rebuilding after the Marcelo Bielsa era.
The Asian tour
Forlán's debut in charge of La Celeste will be on September 24 against Japan in Miyagi. The team will then travel to Seoul to face South Korea on the 28th, before closing the tour on October 6 against India in Kolkata. These matches are a vital opportunity to reverse the current trend, which includes a goalless draw with Algeria and a defeat to Spain in June.
The squad selection reflects the bet on experience, albeit with some notable absences. Luis Suárez, Uruguay's all-time top scorer who retired from international duty in 2024 after his spell with Inter Miami, is not on the preliminary reserve list. Instead, Forlán has opted for a mix of established pillars in Europe and players who have moved to leagues like Saudi Arabia's or Mexico's.
Among those called up are Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde and Al-Diriyah striker Darwin Núñez. Also returning to the national team are Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo. The roster is completed by players like Nahitan Nández (Al-Qadisiyah), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), and Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), alongside less familiar faces such as Bucaramanga goalkeeper Christopher Fiermarín.
The competitive context is challenging. Uruguay is on a five-match winless run in official games, with four draws and one defeat. With the next World Cup group stage match on the horizon, these friendlies are the perfect testing ground to fine-tune the machinery. Fans can follow the team's progress and check the full schedule on our fixtures page, as well as the squad status on squad.
Forlán, who won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup and had an extensive club career with sides like Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, now faces his biggest challenge from the dugout. His immediate mission is clear: restore confidence to a team that needs to rediscover the path to victory, starting with the match against Japan.
First reported at VS Sports
