Uruguay have been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Marcelo Bielsa resigned as head coach following La Celeste’s early group stage exit, and Uruguayan legend Diego Forlán is now set to take over the reins of the national team.
Uruguay were placed in Group H at this year’s World Cup. They lost 1-0 to Spain in their opening match and then failed to win either of their remaining two games, drawing with both Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. Cape Verde, in their debut World Cup, advanced to the knockout stage as the group’s second-placed team, eliminating the two-time world champions in the process.
Bielsa announced his resignation at a press conference following one of the most humiliating exits in Uruguayan football history. The Uruguayan Football Federation has since appointed Forlán as his replacement.
According to the original plan, Forlán had been lined up to take charge of the national youth team ahead of the Under-20 South American Championship scheduled for January 2027. However, with federation elections due later this year, neither party has been able to agree on a long-term deal at this stage.
Given the circumstances, Forlán will serve as interim head coach of the Uruguay national team until March 2027. Whether his contract will be extended beyond that point will depend on the decisions of the new committee that takes office following the federation elections.
Forlán, the winner of the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball award and Uruguay’s third-highest all-time scorer with 36 international goals, has limited coaching experience. He managed 11 matches for Peñarol in 2020 and 12 matches for Uruguayan second-division club Atenas de San Carlos in 2021.
