Federico Valverde withdrawn from Uruguay squad for India friendly in Kolkata

Federico Valverde has withdrawn from Uruguay’s squad and will not feature in the international friendly against India at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata after pulling out for the September-October international window. He sustained an ankle injury during the recent Madrid derby in LaLiga.

Uruguay underwent a managerial change after a poor run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with Diego Forlán replacing Marcelo Bielsa as head coach. Forlán’s first match ended in a 1-3 defeat to Japan. The side responded with a 4-1 victory over South Korea, a game described as one in which they had less control but produced a strong attacking display by scoring early and conceding only late. Uruguay will be looking to build on that win, though the upcoming friendly is expected to present challenges.

Emiliano Martinez has been named to the squad as Valverde’s replacement and is expected to start against India in the defensive midfield position. The report states Martinez will be looking to step up his game to help La Celeste in the away fixture. Valverde is noted in the report as having been playing a crucial role for both his club and country prior to the injury.

Darwin Nunez is identified as a central figure for Uruguay’s attack after scoring a brace against South Korea. He is expected to play an important role and, according to the report, will be keen to deliver a strong performance against the Blue Tigers.

Fans can watch the India vs Uruguay friendly live on the SonyLIV app and website.