Uruguay Team Faces Unusual Security and Travel Snags at the World Cup

Uruguay’s players went through an unusual and highly publicized security screening before their World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Miami, a game that ended 1-1 overnight Monday to Tuesday. A viral video showed the squad lined up while guards and sniffer dogs checked their belongings closely, with some players smiling at the scene and others, including Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte, appearing frustrated.

The episode was described by the article as an “historic humiliation” by the authorities. It also came after a problematic trip to the United States, where the team had been due to fly from Mexico to Florida on Sunday afternoon but was delayed because of administrative issues. Reports said the FIFA-provided flight was missing required paperwork, and even the replacement flight was delayed.

A team spokesman told The Athletic that FIFA was to blame for the delay, while FIFA blamed “airline clearance” problems. Separately, WPLG Local 10 reported heightened security around Miami’s stadium ahead of the June 15 match, including canine units, bomb squads, perimeter checks and vehicle X-ray screening by senior officials.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said drone restrictions were being strictly enforced on match days, and the FBI was also assisting. The article quoted a complaint that the United States was “continuing to humiliate football teams from around the world,” saying Uruguay was treated like drug smugglers and that FIFA had created “historic embarrassment” this year.