<p>The decision came shortly after Marcelo Bielsa's side crashed out of the tournament following a 1-0 defeat to Spain. Uruguay finished the group stage without registering a single victory, drawing against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde before losing to the Spaniards in their decisive final match. The results left the two-time world champions eliminated before the knockout rounds, one of the tournament's biggest surprises. </p><p> Reports originating from Uruguayan journalist Martín Charquero and later confirmed by several international media outlets state that the AUF withdrew the charter flight that had been arranged to transport the entire delegation back to Montevideo. As a result, players and coaching staff were required to book commercial flights individually instead of returning together as a team. </p><p> Although the federation has not publicly explained the reason behind the decision, the move has widely been interpreted as a consequence of Uruguay's disappointing performances throughout the tournament. The South American giants entered the World Cup with high expectations but struggled throughout the group stage and failed to win a single match. </p><p> The early elimination has intensified scrutiny on head coach Marcelo Bielsa, whose tenure has come under increasing pressure. Following the defeat to Spain, Bielsa accepted responsibility for the team's poor showing and acknowledged that the campaign had fallen well below expectations. Reports also indicate that tensions had developed within the squad during the tournament, adding to the difficult atmosphere surrounding the team's exit. </p><p> Uruguay, ranked among South America's traditional football powers, had been expected to comfortably progress beyond the group stage. Instead, they became one of the highest-profile casualties of the expanded 2026 World Cup, while Cape Verde advanced to the knockout rounds in one of the competition's biggest upsets. </p><p> The cancellation of the charter flight has since generated widespread discussion on social media, with many supporters viewing it as a symbolic reflection of the federation's dissatisfaction with the team's performance.</p>