The Uruguay national team is embarking on a tour of Asia for three friendly matches during the September-October FIFA window. The side, led by legendary figure Diego Forlán, will face Japan, South Korea and India as part of their ongoing preparations.

The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed the 26-player squad for the trip on Wednesday. The roster features stars like Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur and Liverpool's Ronald Araújo. Also included are in-form club players such as Napoli's Matías Olivera and Betis's Facundo Bernál.

Tour Itinerary

The first match is against Japan on September 24. The following day, the delegation will travel to South Korea, where they will stay at Seoul's Mayfield Hotel. The match against the Koreans is scheduled for September 28. Finally, the team will depart for India from Incheon International Airport on September 30 to play the final friendly of the tour.

Diego Forlán, a Uruguay football legend who played for Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, is leading the team. "Diego Forlán, a Uruguay football legend who played for Manchester United, Atlético Madrid, and other clubs during his playing career, is leading the team," the manager said.

Competitive Context

These matches come at a key time to assess squad depth. Uruguay currently sits third in their World Cup qualifying group, with just two points from three games. Their last result was a 0-1 defeat to Spain on June 27, leaving them with a record of zero wins, two draws and one loss in the group stage.

Recent form shows a run of five matches without a win, comprising four draws and that loss to Spain. The team has scored three goals and conceded four in qualifying so far, sitting five points behind leaders Spain. The next official match, away to Japan on September 24, will serve as an important test. Fans can follow the full schedule in our fixtures section.

The clash with South Korea revives a recent classic. The last meeting was in March 2023 at Seoul World Cup Stadium, a 2-1 win for Uruguay. In the overall head-to-head, Uruguay dominates with seven wins, two draws and just one defeat. The squad travels with the mission of finding consistency and competitive rhythm for the challenges ahead.

First reported at starnewskorea.com