Brian Rodríguez stays on bench in Uruguay’s 1-0 setup vs Arabia Saudita

Brian Rodríguez was left on the bench as Marcelo Bielsa set Uruguay’s lineup for its first match at the Mundial 2026 against Arabia Saudita. The América winger was available as a substitute, not a starter, in Uruguay’s Group H opener.

Bielsa picks Uruguay’s first XI

Bielsa did not include Rodríguez in the starting 11 for jornada uno. The decision was tactical and based on the characteristics of the match, not on any physical problem.

Sebastián Cáceres did make the XI and lined up in central defense. Uruguay also went with Federico Viñas, Maximiliano Araujo and Darwin Núñez in attack, while Santiago Mele was among the players on the bench.

América players in Uruguay

The lineup split mattered because Uruguay entered the match with two América players in the squad, but only Cáceres started. Rodríguez remained available for minutes off the bench, which kept him in the game plan without giving him the opening whistle.

For Uruguay, the choice set the tone for an opening match built around Bielsa’s read on the opponent rather than a fixed club hierarchy. Rodríguez’s role can still change during the match, but the first call left him waiting on the sideline while Cáceres was on the field from the start.