Manuel Ugarte, the 25-year-old defensive midfielder who has spent the past two seasons at Manchester United, is reportedly in line to make his first ever FIFA World Cup appearance when Uruguay take the pitch tonight.

From qualifying hero to World Cup hopeful

Ugarte earned his place in Uruguay’s 26-man squad, which was officially announced on 31 May 2026. The selection by coach Marcelo Bielsa underscores the importance the legendary Argentine tactician places on Ugarte’s midfield presence.

The Uruguayan has accumulated over 31 senior international caps heading into the tournament. His international career began back in September 2021.

One of the highlights of his international career came on 15 November 2024, when he scored his first senior goal for Uruguay in a World Cup qualifying match against Colombia.

The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

A bumpy road at club level

After completing a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024 at a market valuation of around 25 million euros, Ugarte logged 45 appearances for United during the 2024-25 season.

The 2025-26 season brought additional hurdles. Under coach Ruben Amorim, Ugarte reportedly struggled to find his footing, facing adaptation difficulties in a system that demanded different things from him than what he’d been accustomed to at PSG and earlier in his career.

What tonight means for Uruguay

Ugarte’s role under Bielsa is expected to be the midfield anchor, the player who breaks up opposition attacks and transitions the ball forward.

His 31-plus caps put him somewhere in the middle of that spectrum: not a grizzled veteran, but certainly not a wide-eyed newcomer either.