Uruguay Footballers Visit Eden Gardens Ahead of India Friendly

The Uruguay national football team, currently in Kolkata for an international friendly against India, visited the iconic Eden Gardens stadium on Sunday. The players, including Lucas Torreira and Ronald Araujo, participated in a lighthearted cricket session at the historic venue, which is widely regarded as the home of Indian cricket.

Uruguay is ranked 20th in the world by FIFA and is seeking competitive recovery after exiting in the group stage at the previous two World Cups. Uruguay previously played at Eden Gardens during the inaugural Nehru Cup in 1982 and won the tournament.

Uruguay won the inaugural Nehru Cup tournament after playing matches at Eden Gardens in 1982. The Uruguayan team's cricket session at Eden Gardens connected the venue's global cricket identity with its lesser-known football past where Uruguay won the 1982 Nehru Cup.

Cultural Engagement in Kolkata

The visit was part of a broader effort by the Uruguayan squad to familiarize themselves with Kolkata's culture and landmarks ahead of their match on October 6 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. In addition to Eden Gardens, the team visited the Victoria Memorial and St. Paul's Cathedral. The squad's official social media accounts shared images and footage of the players interacting with cricket bats and balls, highlighting the team's interest in India's most popular sport.

Match Context and Squad Details

Uruguay, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, is coached by Diego Forlan, who previously played for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League in 2016. The current squad features several high-profile players, including Darwin Nunez, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Jose Maria Gimenez. Notably, Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde is absent from the tour due to an injury. This match concludes India's series of friendlies against South American opposition, following a 1-1 draw against Panama and a 0-4 defeat to Brazil. The upcoming fixture is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. IST.