Why Is Ronald Araujo Not Playing Tonight for Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia?

Uruguay will take on Saudi Arabia to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign, with the former champions starting their Group H journey.

While Uruguay no longer have stars like Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, they still have a strong squad with several top-level players capable of making a difference.

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez, and Manuel Ugarte are all expected to play key roles in Uruguay's push through the tournament. Ronald Araujo is another important player who could have a big impact.

Unfortunately for the team, Araujo is currently sidelined due to a muscle tear in his leg sustained during a training session ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Why Is Araujo Not Playing Uruguay's World Cup Opener?

The 27-year-old suffered a muscle strain in early June, which escalated into a tear during Uruguay training, ruling him out of their opening World Cup matches.

He was then sent back to Barcelona for specialized treatment, with Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa taking responsibility for how the injury was handled.

"Araujo arrived ⁠with a muscle problem which wasn't serious. He had no serious muscle problems in the last ​six months at Barcelona. He also suffered a muscle tear," Bielsa told the media.

"My conclusion is the same. If ​the player gets injured in training, something is wrong. But Araujo works with a group he trusts a lot and no decisions were made without reaching a consensus with them and Araujo himself. We feel responsible, but we couldn't have ​done anything differently," he added.

Per reports online, Araujo is expected to miss Uruguay's next match against Cape Verde as well. The coaching staff are hoping the Barcelona defender will recover in time for their final Group stage game against Spain, although there has been no official confirmation.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM.