Uruguay’s national football team experienced significant travel disruptions ahead of their first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. Their flight from Mexico to the United States was delayed for several hours. The delay stemmed from a failure by FIFA to promptly finalize necessary flight permits. This issue prevented the team from traveling as scheduled, impacting their preparation time. FIFA has been identified as the source of the administrative hold-up. The incident raises questions about logistical organization surrounding the qualifying tournament. It remains unclear what impact the delay will have on the team’s performance.