Manchester United midfielder is expected to start Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia as Marcelo Bielsa looks to overcome a defensive crisis early on in the tournament.
There will be a strong Manchester United representation at the 2026 World Cup, with 12 players competing for the biggest prize in international football.
That includes players like Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) and Manuel Ugarte (Uruguay).
The latter will have extra defensive responsibility in Uruguay’s opener against Saudi Arabia.
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Manuel Ugarte to feature in Uruguay XI against Saudi Arabia
Ugarte has been named in two World Cup squads for Uruguay, but unlike in 2022, the United midfielder is expected to have a starting role in Marcelo Bielsa’s team.
It has been a rollercoaster ride in the three years that Bielsa has been in charge of the Uruguay national team. They’ve qualified for the World Cup and finished third in the 2024 Copa America, but there was also a run between July 2024 and June 2025 that saw them win one in 12.
To make matters more complicated for Bielsa, Uruguay go into their first game of the tournament with key personnel missing from their back four due to injuries.
According to El Observador, Ugarte will start to help protect the Uruguay defence from his preferred midfield role.
Uruguay will be without defensive duo Jose Maria Gimenez and Ronald Araujo, which could prove costly in Monday’s game with Saudi Arabia looking to cause an upset.
Ugarte has been linked with a move away from United, so he could play his way into the transfer window by guiding Uruguay into the knockout stages.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Manuel Ugarte is expected to start in Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia
- Uruguay will be without defensive duo Jose Maria Gimenez and Ronald Araujo
- Ugarte will be under extra pressure to protect Uruguay’s back four from midfield
Which FORMER Man Utd player are you most intrigued to watch at the World Cup…?
There are more ex-United players at the tournament than current ones! 🌎
Manuel Ugarte waiting for his first appearance at a World Cup
Although Ugarte was selected by Diego Alonso for the Uruguay squad at the 2022 World Cup, the former Sporting CP star was an unused substitute on the bench for all three group games.
Uruguay suffered an early exit in Qatar, which meant Ugarte had no chance to make an appearance in the latter stages.
Ugarte could make his first appearance at a World Cup in Miami, which will be a milestone moment in his career.
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