With Marcelo Bielsa at the helm, Uruguay are one of the most intriguing teams in the tournament. Bielsa, known for his high-intensity style of play, has moulded Uruguay into a compact, high-pressing side. The two-time world champions are aiming for another historic result. The clash against Spain on the final matchday could prove decisive.

Manager Marcelo Bielsa has named three goalkeepers for La Celeste: Sergio Rochet, Fernando Muslera and Santiago Mele. Uruguay will face Saudi Arabia, Spain and Cape Verde in Group H. The trio of goalkeepers is one of the most unusual combinations of the tournament – a 39-year-old is coming out of retirement to compete in his fifth World Cup, whilst the second keeper has been the number one for years and the third has only eight international caps to his name.

Rochet is 33 years old and has been Uruguay’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since the 2022 World Cup. His career path took him from the Danubio Academy to three years at AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, where he gained Europa League experience, then to Sivasspor in the Turkish Süper Lig and finally back home to Nacional – where he was the first-choice keeper for four seasons and won the Uruguayan league title twice. Since July 2023, he has been with SC Internacional in the Brazilian Série A, where he is the first-choice keeper and has a contract until the end of 2026.

With 35 international caps and having been the number one throughout the World Cup qualifiers, he goes into the tournament as Bielsa’s clear first choice. Rochet is not a keeper who stands out for his spectacular saves – he impresses with his reliability, solid line and ability to keep his cool in difficult moments. Exactly what Bielsa needs.

Muslera is 39 years old and is taking part in his fifth World Cup. A Uruguayan record. In April 2024, after 133 international caps, he officially announced his retirement from the national team; after 14 years at Galatasaray, eight Süper Lig titles and the 2011 Copa América victory, that chapter seemed to be closed. In the summer of 2025, he moved to Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine Primera División. Then Bielsa called.

Muslera is Uruguay’s most-capped goalkeeper in history and the most experienced keeper in the entire World Cup tournament. The fact that he is travelling as a backup behind Rochet does nothing to diminish his symbolic importance to this squad – nor his readiness to step in at any moment should Rochet be unavailable.

Mele is 28 years old and has had an unusual career path. After spells at Fénix, Osmanlıspor and on loan in Spain and Uruguay, he joined Atlético Junior in Colombia on a permanent basis in 2024, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper and won the 2023 Clausura title. In June 2025, CF Monterrey signed him for Liga MX. His appearances remained limited that season, as he received little playing time behind first-choice goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. With around eight international caps since his debut in 2023, he is the third-choice goalkeeper and Bielsa’s long-term plan for the Uruguayan goal in the future.