2026 World Cup: Marcelo Bielsa annoyed after Uruguay's draw against Saudi Arabia
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) did not hide his annoyance after the draw conceded against Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup, responding curtly to questions from the media, in particular on his posture during an official FIFA photo session.
While Uruguay snatched a draw against Saudi Arabia thanks to a goal from Maxi Araújo ten minutes from time, Marcelo Bielsa, coach renowned for his outspokenness, stood out at a press conference with a particularly dry tone.
Annoyed by the turn of events on the pitch – Uruguay having narrowly missed victory in this first match of the 2026 World Cup – Bielsa first underlined the essential: “The important thing is that no player was injured. » Refusing to plan for the group's future, he dodged the possible scenarios: “I can't predict how the rest will happen. »
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But tension really rose when an American journalist asked him about the official photo session organized by FIFA before the competition. Video portraits of coaches and players have become a classic of television broadcasts during major competitions. Questioned about his unusual attitude in front of the camera – a brief glance then his eyes fixed on the ground – Bielsa dryly replied: “I don’t have to explain that. The photos and videos were taken as they were supposed to be. I'm not a model, I presented myself in front of the camera and the photographers did their job. Do I really have to justify why I'm not looking at the camera? »
After a short silence, the Uruguayan coach continued by broadening the subject: “There must be a limit to what we must explain. I wear glasses, why? People ask me why I don't look at anyone, why I lower my eyes or why I raise them... There are a lot of things they would like me to answer. I don't have to behave like a role model, I haven't done anything wrong. »
With the incident over, Bielsa and Uruguay now turn their attention to their next World Cup meeting against Cape Verde.