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Diego Forlan‘s tenure as interim head coach of the Uruguay national team has officially begun, as the legendary striker inherits the responsibility of orchestrating a rebuild following a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. Addressing potential roster changes moving forward, Forlan left the door open for an eventual return of former teammate Luis Suarez to La Celeste, asking simply, “Why not?“
Originally serving as Uruguay‘s Under-20 head coach, Forlan will step in as interim manager through March 2027, ahead of the Uruguayan Football Association’s upcoming presidential elections. The opening follows Marcelo Bielsa’s resignation after Uruguay’s group-stage elimination from the World Cup, a tournament where the Argentine manager notably excluded Suarez from his squad.
However, during his introductory press conference, Forlán made it clear that Suárez remains in his thoughts: “I have enormous affection for Luis and a lot of confidence in him. If he is eligible for selection—he is Uruguayan—so being able to have a player like Luis with that experience… He has goals in him and keeps showing it every weekend he plays, why not? That will be seen further down the line. Nobody is going to debate who Luis is.”
Suarez and Forlan famously headlined Uruguay’s memorable 2010 World Cup run to the semifinals, highlighted by Forlan’s Golden Ball performance and Suárez’s iconic goal-line handball against Ghana. The attacking duo also shared the pitch at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and led Uruguay to victory in the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, securing the country’s most recent major international trophy.
Diego Forlan speaks during his presentation as interim coach of Uruguay. (Ernesto Ryan/Getty Images)
Suarez previously made his ceremonial farewell appearance for Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in September 2024. However, prior to the World Cup, the veteran forward left room for a potential return, stating, “I would never say no to the national team.” Ultimately, Bielsa opted to leave the Inter Miami striker off his roster for the tournament in North America.
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When reporters reminded Forlan of Suarez’s willingness to return, the new interim coach reiterated his open-door policy for his longtime teammate. “Honestly, I didn’t know he had said that, but if he did, he is more than welcome,” he affirmed.
Suarez’s strong form could fuel international comeback
Suarez has reignited his form with Inter Miami after regaining a featured role under head coach Guillermo Hoyos. The 39-year-old forward has made 15 appearances across all competitions in 2026, delivering 10 goals and two assists while demonstrating impressive efficiency in front of the net compared to Uruguay’s current attacking options.
During the World Cup, Bielsa’s forward line struggled to generate offense, relying on Darwin Nuñez, Federico Viñas, and Rodrigo Aguirre, none of whom scored any of Uruguay’s three tournament goals. As a result, a potential Suarez return would be fueled not only by his strong club form, but also by Uruguay’s lingering need for proven goalscoring depth up front.
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