Uruguay appoints Diego Forlán as interim head coach

Uruguay has appointed legendary former striker Diego Forlán as the interim head coach of its national team, the Uruguayan Football Association announced on July 12, 2026. The move follows the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa after the team's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Forlán, 47, will lead the senior side through March 2027 while also continuing as head coach of the Under-20 national team. His initial responsibilities will include overseeing a series of friendly matches scheduled for September, October, and November of this year, as well as preparing the U-20 squad for the 2027 South American U-20 Championship. The federation stated that his performance will be reviewed next year before a decision is made on a permanent manager for the next World Cup cycle.

The coaching change was triggered by a deeply disappointing World Cup campaign for Uruguay, known as La Celeste. Drawn in Group H, the two-time world champion failed to win a match, earning only two points from draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and suffering a 1-0 defeat to Spain. The team finished third in the group and was eliminated before the knockout stage.

Bielsa, the 70-year-old Argentine manager who...