The Uruguay World Cup 2022 squad announcement will be made soon, but Diego Alonso has already called up 55 players to a provisional squad.
But what matters most in Qatar is the talent that will be on the pitch. Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin are well past their 30s but will be hoping for one last magical run. That, too, could turn into a tournament that will feature the next generation of stars.
Federico Valverde, who was recently named the third best player in the world, and Liverpool shooting sensation Darwin Nunez are ready for the World Cup along with FC Barcelona defensive force Ronald Araujo if he recovers from injury in time.
La Celeste always seem to find a way, including in recent World Cup qualifiers when things looked dire and legendary manager Oscar Washington Tabarez was sacked. They finally did it and are one of the favorites to advance from Group H in Qatar. And if Uruguay and their signature fight and grit – known as Garra Charrua – make it to the knockouts, anything can happen.
Uruguay World Cup 2022 squad: The provisional 55-man squad for Qatar
- GK: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray)
- GK: Sergio Rochet (Nacional)
- GK: Guillermo de Amores (Lanus)
- GK: Sebastian Sosa (Independiente)
- GK: Santiago Mele (Union)
- GK: Gaston Olveira (Olimpia)
- DF: Diego Godin (Velez Sarsfield)
- DF: Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)
- DF: Ronald Araujo (Barcelona)
- DF: Federico Pereira (Liverpool Montevideo)
- DF: Jose Luis Rodriguez (Nacional)
- DF: Gaston Alvarez (Getafe)
- DF: Santiago Bueno (Girona)
- DF: Alfonso Espino (Cadiz)
- DF: Lucas Olaza (Real Valladolid)
- DF: Agustin Rogel (Hertha Berlin)
- DF: Damian Suarez (Getafe)
- DF: Giovanni Gonzalez (Mallorca)
- DF: Bruno Mendez (Corinthians)
- DF: Leandro Cabrera (Espanyol)
- DF: Matias Vina (Roma)
- DF: Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP)
- DF: Martin Caceres (LA Galaxy)
- DF: Mathias Olivera (Napoli)
- DF: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
- DF: Sebastian Caceres (America)
- DF: Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras)
- MF: Manuel Ugarte (Sporting CP)
- MF: Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham)
- MF: Nicolas de la Cruz (River Plate)
- MF: Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo)
- MF: Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray)
- MF: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
- MF: Matias Vecino (Lazio)
- MF: Mauro Arambarri (Getafe)
- MF: Fernando Gorriaran (Santos Laguna)
- MF: Cesar Araujo (Orlando City)
- MF: Maximiliano Araujo (Puebla)
- MF: Felipe Carballo (Nacional)
- MF: Fabricio Diaz (Liverpool Montevideo)
- FW: Diego Rossi (Fenerbahce)
- FW: Luis Suarez (Nacional)
- FW: Jonathan Rodriguez (America)
- FW: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
- FW: Maxi Gomez (Trabzonspor)
- FW: Facundo Torres (Orlando City)
- FW: Edinson Cavani (Valencia)
- FW: Facundo Pellistri (Manchester United)
- FW: Agustin Alvarez (Sassuolo)
- FW: Agustin Canobbio (Athletico Paranaense)
- FW: David Terans (Athletico Paranaense)
- FW: Brian Ocampo (Cadiz)
- FW: Martin Satriano (Empoli)
- FW: Thiago Borbas (River Plate Montevideo)
- FW: Nicolas Lopez (UANL)
Final 26-man Uruguay World Cup roster
The 55-man list suggests plenty of decisions for manager Diego Alonso, but a good chunk of the final 26-man roster should actually choose itself by the time the Monday, Nov. 14 deadline comes around.
If Ronald Araujo can’t recover in time, Club America center-back Sebastian Caceres or Hertha’s Agustin Rogel could be next in line. Facundo Torres, who plays with American side Orlando City, could be the last forward taken, while the midfield picks seem straightforward.
Here’s a look at a likely projected 26-man roster for Uruguay:
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Fernando Muslera | Galatasaray (TUR) | 36 | 133 |
| Goalkeeper | Sergio Rochet | Nacional (URU) | 29 | 8 |
| Goalkeeper | Sebastian Sosa | Independiente (ARG) | 36 | 1 |
| Defender | Ronald Araujo | Barcelona (ESP) | 23 | 12 |
| Defender | Martin Caceres | LA Galaxy (USA) | 35 | 115 |
| Defender | Sebastian Coates | Sporting CP (POR) | 32 | 47 |
| Defender | Jose Maria Gimenez | Atletico Madrid (ESP) | 27 | 78 |
| Defender | Diego Godin | Velez Sarsfield (ARG) | 36 | 159 |
| Defender | Mathias Olivera | Napoli (ITA) | 24 | 8 |
| Defender | Damian Suarez | Getafe (ESP) | 34 | 7 |
| Defender | Guillermo Varela | Flamengo (BRA) | 29 | 9 |
| Defender | Matias Vina | AS Roma (ITA) | 24 | 26 |
| Midfielder | Mauro Arambarri | Getafe (ESP) | 27 | 12 |
| Midfielder | Rodrigo Bentancur | Tottenham (ENG) | 25 | 51 |
| Midfielder | Nicolas De La Cruz | River Plate (ARG) | 25 | 17 |
| Midfielder | Facundo Pellistri | Manchester United (ENG) | 20 | 7 |
| Midfielder | Lucas Torreira | Galatasaray (TUR) | 26 | 40 |
| Midfielder | Manuel Ugarte | Sporting CP (POR) | 21 | 6 |
| Midfielder | Federico Valverde | Real Madrid (ESP) | 24 | 44 |
| Midfielder | Matias Vecino | Lazio (ITA) | 31 | 62 |
| Forward | Agustin Canobbio | Athletico Paranaense (BRA) | 24 | 3 |
| Forward | Edinson Cavani | Valencia (ESP) | 35 | 133 |
| Forward | Giorgian De Arrascaeta | Flamengo (BRA) | 28 | 40 |
| Forward | Darwin Nunez | Liverpool (ENG) | 23 | 13 |
| Forward | Luis Suarez | Nacional (URU) | 35 | 134 |
| Forward | Facundo Torres | Orlando City (USA) | 22 | 10 |
Uruguay World Cup group
Based on FIFA’s world rankings and international pedigree, No. 14 Uruguay are expected to be one of the top two teams to get out of Group H.
The pressure will be on to win the opener against South Korea (Nov. 24), though the second matchday against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo could be the most favorable stylistic matchup for Uruguay.
Given their history at past World Cups, the last thing Uruguay wants is a Ghana side that has something to play for in the group finale. Revenge will still be on the minds of the Black Stars after the infamous Suarez hand ball on the goal line in 2010, which prevented them from reaching the quarterfinals.
World Cup Group H fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Uruguay vs. South Korea | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Portugal vs. Ghana | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | South Korea vs. Ghana | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Portugal vs. Uruguay | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | South Korea vs. Portugal | 10 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Ghana vs. Uruguay | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
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