Uruguay: Federico Valverde finally speaks out after elimination

One thing is clear: Uruguay completely missed the mark at the 2026 World Cup.

A consistent force in South America, the team this time was knocked out in the group stage, not even ranking among the best third-placed teams. In the eye of the storm, Federico Valverde broke his silence on social media, expressing his disappointment with this failure.

"Several days have passed since the elimination, and only now am I starting to process everything I've been through, even though I know that a part of me might never recover from another group stage exit like the one I experienced at the World Cup. This wound is still raw," the Madrid player wrote on Instagram. "I feel an immense responsibility towards my country. It's a source of pride that fills me. I did everything I could to succeed: I prepared physically and mentally, I tried not to repeat the same mistakes, working hard all season long. But, clearly, it wasn't enough. I accept my defeat. I take full responsibility for this failure and I know I didn't live up to expectations. But I will never give up representing my country, even if it costs me my life. I don't know how or when, but I swear on my life that I won't leave this team without bringing it to the top.", he wrote.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

Related teams and leagues

Uruguay

World Cup