<p>Group H features a pair of <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Cup</a></strong> champions ready to battle for first place. With <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spain</a></strong> considered the favorite to advance as the group winner, <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/uruguay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uruguay</a></strong> are expected to finish ahead of Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. However, a new injury concern has emerged for <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/marcelo-bielsa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marcelo Bielsa</a></strong>‘s team.</p>



<p>The player who may miss the World Cup entirely is <strong>Giorgian de Arrascaeta</strong>. His road to the tournament was already complicated after he suffered a fractured right collarbone while playing for Flamengo on April 29 in a Copa Libertadores match against Estudiantes.</p>



<p>That injury was not expected to be a major issue because of the recovery time available, but a new problem has now appeared. During Tuesday’s training session with Uruguay, <strong>the midfielder left with calf pain</strong> and Uruguayan journalist Gonzalo Ronchi reported it could be a tear. If that diagnosis is confirmed, he would likely be replaced on the squad.</p>



<h2>Replacement candidates</h2>



<p>FIFA only requires federations to publicly announce their final 26-man squads. Teams were also required to submit provisional lists of up to 55 players beforehand, <strong>but those lists were not made public</strong>. However, reports from local media have provided clues about some of the players who were under consideration.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🚨 ATENCIÓN 🚨<br><br>Se desgarró Giorgian de Arrascaeta y se pierde el Mundial con <a href="https://x.com/Uruguay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Uruguay</a>. Baja sensible para la celeste <a href="https://t.co/59Eneg72gz">pic.twitter.com/59Eneg72gz</a></p>— Gonzalo Ronchi (@GonzaloRonchi) <a href="https://x.com/GonzaloRonchi/status/2061837106406727691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Like several other national teams, Uruguay left some notable names out of the final roster, <strong>with a few experienced players surprisingly missing from the squad</strong>.</p>


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup/luis-suarez-exclusion-from-uruguays-2026-world-cup-roster-addressed-by-coach-marcelo-bielsa/"></div>


<p>One midfielder omitted by Bielsa was <strong>Lucas Torreira</strong>. While the Galatasaray player offers a different profile than de Arrascaeta, the coach could view him as an experienced alternative. <strong>Nahitan Nández</strong> was the most notable absence from the final squad and could become an option if Bielsa were to make a significant change in approach. <strong>Facundo Torres</strong> is another player who was believed to be close to making the team and could also be considered.</p>



<h2>The replacement deadline</h2>



<p>Even though the final 26-man squads have already been announced, changes can still be made under certain circumstances. FIFA’s regulations state: “A player in the final squad may only be replaced by a player from the provisional squad in the event of a serious injury or illness, <strong>no later than 24 hours before their team’s first match</strong> at World Cup 2026.” For Uruguay, that deadline falls on June 14.</p>


Spain’s biggest group threat gets weaker as Uruguay playmaker may miss the World Cup: Who can replace him and when?

Spain’s biggest group threat gets weaker as Uruguay playmaker may miss the World Cup: Who can replace him and when? - World Soccer Talk

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Spain’s biggest group threat gets weaker as Uruguay playmaker may miss the World Cup: Who can replace him and when?