Cavani scored two goals in the round of 16 win over Portugal then limped off with a calf injury, and had desperately sought to get fit for the match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez kept the rest of his side unchanged from the 2-1 win over Portugal.
France, who beat Argentina 4-3 in the last 16, are without suspended midfielder Blaise Matuidi, replaced by Corentin Tolisso, as coach Didier Deschamps also kept an otherwise unchanged team.
The winners play either Brazil or Belgium who meet in the second quarter-final later on Friday.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
