Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has revealed he would be open to returning to international football with Uruguay if called upon for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The veteran striker stepped away from the national team in September 2024 following criticism of Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa, claiming at the time that the coach had “divided the whole group.”
However, Suárez has now softened his position and admitted he regrets some of his previous comments.
As reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, Suarez was quoted as saying, “I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up,” Suárez said in comments reported by Spanish news agency EFE.
“At the time, I stepped aside to make way for the younger generation. I said something I shouldn’t have said. I have already apologised to those I needed to apologise to.”
The former FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC forward remains Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 143 appearances.
Suárez has represented Uruguay at four World Cups since making his tournament debut in 2010.
His World Cup career has included memorable and controversial moments, including the handball against Ghana in South Africa and the biting incident involving Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Now playing for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, the 39-year-old said he still has the motivation to continue competing at the highest level.
“You realise you still have a little bit of life left in you. You get the urge to keep competing.
“You can see it on the pitch when you still get angry about the losses and the bad passes, and you still enjoy it when you score goals,” he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July. Uruguay are set to face Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, and Spain in Group H.