The November international break has arrived, and while some nations are still competing to qualify directly for the World Cup, other national teams will play in friendly matches to continue preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
The Mexican National Team will face two South American national teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Mexico will be playing against Uruguay and Paraguay.
The two teams are a big test for the Mexican National Team, but the Uruguay game has gotten slightly easier since the South American team will be without arguably their best player on the team.
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde will miss the friendly match against Mexico due to an injury to the semimembranosus muscle in his right thigh, which was confirmed by the Real Madrid medical team.
Valverde is expected to be out for two weeks, which rules him out for the Uruguayan national team. Valverde played for Real Madrid's 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano over the weekend and was taken off in the 83rd minute.
The Uruguay national team confirmed their squad for the friendlies against Mexico and the United States. Valverde was not listed in the squad list for the friendly matches this week.
Uruguay's squad list for match against Mexico
Despite Federico Valverde missing the friendly vs Mexico, Uruguay's head coach Marcelo Bielsa did call up some notable names that play in Europe that can test the Mexican National Team in this international break.
Estos son los convocados de Marcelo Bielsa para la Fecha FIFA de noviembre 📋 pic.twitter.com/mu66WfF0Ay
— Selección Uruguaya (@Uruguay) November 10, 2025
Among the players that play in elite clubs in Europe are Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Manuel Ugarte.
Names Liga MX fans are familiar with in the Uruguay squad list are Club América's Rodrigo Aguirre, Sebastián Cáceres, and Brian Rodríguez.
Former Club América and Club León striker Federico Viñas is also in the squad. The Uruguayan striker currently plays for Real Oviedo in La Liga.
Can the Mexican National Team defeat an Uruguay team without Federico Valverde? Let us know your predictions for the match.
Read More