The Uruguay national team is blaming FIFA after an unexpected travel delay kept them from taking off on time and won’t allow them to arrive in the United States until less than 24 hours before their first match of the World Cup.
The team’s plane was scheduled to depart from Cancun, Mexico, where Uruguay’s base camp is located, on Sunday afternoon.
According to multiple reports, however, the flight was not authorized to enter the United States, with Telemundo reporting that there had been a paperwork issue with the plane’s entry permits into the U.S.
A second plane was needed to come and take the Uruguay national team to South Florida, according to The Athletic.
“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 4.15pm,” the Uruguayan Football Association said in a statement.
A spokesman for the federation also confirmed to The Athletic that it was FIFA’s fault for the travel delay.
FIFA said that it was a technical issue with the plane that caused the issue, according to USA Today.
Uruguay will face Saudi Arabia in their first match of the World Cup on Monday at 6 p.m. EDT in Miami.
There could also be another pressing matter depending on when Uruguay arrives in Florida.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa and central defender Jose Maria Gimenez were slated to take part in a pre-match press conference on Sunday that had originally been scheduled for 6:45 p.m., but was pushed back to 8 p.m.
If it does not happen, the federation could be facing sanctions from FIFA.
The Uruguayan Football Association’s social media account did show posts of players boarding the flight to Miami around 5:40 p.m.
