With Uruguay’s early elimination from the 2026 World Cup, Arrascaeta, Varela, and De la Cruz have been granted 10 days of rest before reporting back to Flamengo.
Uruguay‘s run in the 2026 World Cup came to an unexpected end in the group stage. Following the early exit of La Celeste, Flamengo—the Brazilian club with the highest number of players called up to their national teams—has begun planning for the immediate return of three key pillars: Arrascaeta, Varela, and De la Cruz.
Unlike the rest of the squad, which remains in intense preparation, the Uruguayan trio has been granted immediate leave. The board and the coaching staff led by Jardim decided that the players will be entitled to 10 consecutive days of vacation for physical and mental recovery before resuming activities at Ninho do Urubu.
Logistics and focus on the mid-season break
Although the club is still finalizing the return logistics for the players directly from the United States, it is unlikely the trio will join the delegation for the mid-season training camp in Portugal. Flamengo departs this Sunday for the Algarve, where they will play a series of friendly matches against River Plate, Lausanne, and Benfica, aiming to prepare for the remainder of the season.
“The club will grant 10 consecutive days of vacation to the called-up players, following the same protocol applied to athletes who did not participate in the World Cup,” the coaching staff reported. The expectation is that they will return to training around July 8, ensuring the players are fit for the challenges of the second half of the year.
Medical status and next steps
The situation regarding Arrascaeta warrants special attention. The Uruguayan star spent the entire tournament on the bench, dealing with a calf injury that had sidelined him since the final preparations. The midfielder has been performing specific exercises with Flamengo physiotherapists, and the expectation is that he will be 100% physically fit when he returns to the training center.
While Uruguay bids farewell, other players such as Paquetá, Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira, Danilo, Carrascal, and Plata continue to represent their respective national teams in the knockout stages. Managing this fatigue will be fundamental for Mais Querido to maintain its competitive rhythm following the break, focusing on the remainder of the Brazilian Serie A and other competitions throughout the year.
