The Uruguay national football team has unveiled a large 46-man provisional squad for the upcoming September international friendlies. New head coach Diego Forlan has called up several of his star names as the team looks to improve its form after a shaky start in 2026 World Cup qualifying, where they sit third with just two points from three games.
Who are the big names in the provisional squad?
Forlan's preliminary list is packed with players from Europe's top leagues. Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde and Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo headline the selection. Also included are Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur, Wolverhampton's Santiago Bueno, and experienced defender José María Giménez, now at Deportivo La Coruña. Striker Darwin Núñez, currently at Al-Diriyah, is another major attacking option. The extensive squad gives Forlan plenty of room to assess his options ahead of the three fixtures, which are key to turning things around after a run of five matches without a win (0W-4D-1L).
What is Uruguay's fixture schedule?
La Celeste has three matches scheduled in this FIFA window. The first is against Japan on September 24 in an away fixture. Four days later, on September 28, they will face South Korea. The friendly cycle concludes on October 6 against India in Kolkata. These matches are a important opportunity to prepare for the resumption of World Cup qualifying. Uruguay arrives with a record of three goals scored and four conceded, and they trail leaders Spain by five points, having lost 0-1 to them on June 27. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
How important are these friendlies for the opponent?
Uruguay's visit to India is part of a high-profile series organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly praised the arrival of teams like Brazil and Uruguay. "It's very good for Indian football," Ganguly said. "Hopefully this continues consistently." The AIFF has invested a considerable sum to secure these fixtures, against a backdrop of uncertainty in India's domestic league. The Indian team, managed by Khalid Jamil, has already named its 26-man squad for these friendlies.
What is the current context for the Uruguay team?
Beyond the friendlies, Uruguay's primary goal is to climb the 2026 World Cup qualifying table. With only two points from three games and a negative goal difference (-1), the pressure to get positive results is clear. The full squad and their detailed statistics are available in our squad and stats sections. The next official challenge in qualifying will come after this friendly window, but the immediate focus is on the September 24 match against Japan, the first of the Asian tour.
