Uruguay’s World Cup team ready for Miami match after travel hiccup on Sunday
The Uruguay World Cup team dealt with a travel hiccup ahead of Monday’s opening match against Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium.
The team’s charter flight from Mexico to Miami Sunday night was delayed a few hours due to missing documentation. Uruguay’s team was scheduled to travel Sunday afternoon from their base camp in Playa del Carmen.
“Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed. The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4:15 p.m.,” the Uruguayan Federation said in a statement on Sunday.
FIFA later explained the delay: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed.
“The airline has apologized for the inconvenience caused. FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team’s travel arrangements.”
The team landed after 7 p.m. and its press conference at the stadium featuring coach Marcelo Bielsa and captain José María Giménez was delayed from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Giménez and Bielsa both shrugged off the flight delay.
“The travel, we had some complications, it was difficult, but we were able to rest in the hotel and get here later,” the player said.
Bielsa said it will “cause no problem” for the team.