Uruguay national football team

The Uruguay national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Uruguay) represents Uruguay in international football, and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez. The Uruguayan team is commonly referred to as La Celeste (The Sky Blue). They have won the Copa América 15 times, the most successful national team in the tournament, the most recent title being the 2011 edition. The team has won the FIFA World Cup twice, including the first World Cup in 1930 as hosts, defeating Argentina 4–2 in the final. They won their second title in 1950, upsetting host Brazil 2–1 in the final match, which received an attendance higher than any football match ever.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Uruguay women's national football team.

Uruguay
Nickname(s)La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
AssociationAUF
ConfederationCONMEBOL (South America)
Head coachÓscar Tabárez
CaptainDiego Godín
Most capsDiego Godín (135)
Top scorerLuis Suárez (59)
Home stadiumEstadio Centenario
FIFA codeURU
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 5 (16 July 2020)[1]
Highest2 (June 2012)
Lowest76 (December 1998)
First international
 Uruguay 2–3 Argentina 
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 16 May 1901)[note 1][4]
Biggest win
 Uruguay 9–0 Bolivia 
(Lima, Peru; 9 November 1927)
Biggest defeat
 Uruguay 0–6 Argentina 
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 20 July 1902)
World Cup
Appearances13 (first in 1930)
Best resultChampions (1930, 1950)
Copa América
Appearances44 (first in 1916)
Best resultChampions (1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011)
Confederations Cup
Appearances2 (first in 1997)
Best resultFourth place (1997, 2013)

They have won Gold medals at the Olympic football tournament twice, in 1924 and 1928, which are regarded as equivalent to World Cups, including by FIFA.[6][7] Uruguay also won the 1980 Mundialito, a tournament among former World Cup champions. In total, Uruguay have won 20 official titles, a world record for the most international titles held by any country.

Their success is amplified by the fact that the nation has a very small population of around 3.4 million inhabitants (2011 est.). Uruguay is by far the smallest country in the world to have won a World Cup in terms of population, 1.75 million inhabitants in 1930. The second-smallest country, by population, to have won the World Cup is Argentina with a population of nearly 28 million people in 1978. Uruguay is also the smallest country ever to win any World Cup medals; only six FIFA member nations with a currently smaller population than Uruguay's have ever qualified to any World Cup: Northern Ireland (three times), Slovenia (twice), Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Iceland.

History
Uruguay before its first match (official) v Argentina, July 1902
The team that won its second Gold Medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics

In 1901, Uruguay played against Argentina in their first ever match, a close contest won by Argentina 3–2. Prior to 1916, Uruguay played more than 30 matches, of which all but one were against Argentina. The inaugural Copa America provided Uruguay with more varied opposition. Victories over Chile and Brazil, along with a tie against Argentina, enabled Uruguay to win the tournament. The following year Uruguay hosted the competition, and retained the title by winning every game. The 1919 Copa América saw Uruguay's first defeat in the tournament, a 1–0 defeat in a playoff with Brazil which went to two periods of extra time, the longest Copa América match in history.

In 1924, the Uruguay team traveled to Paris to become the first South American team to compete in the Olympic Games – this football tournament is the first recognized by FIFA as a world championship.[6][7] In contrast to the physical style of the European teams of the era, Uruguay played a style based around short passes,[8] and won every game, defeating Switzerland 3–0 in the gold medal match. In the 1928 Summer Olympics, Uruguay went to Amsterdam to defend their title, again winning the gold medal after defeating Argentina 2–1 in the replay of the final (the first match was a draw after extra time). FIFA assumed the responsibility of the organization of the Football Games to be played by FIFA rules and the tournaments are recognized as World Championships.[6][7] It only happened twice (1924/1928 Summer Olympic Games) until the creation of its own FIFA World Championship, the FIFA World Cup, in 1930.[9]

The team that beat Argentina in the final match of the 1930 FIFA World Cup to win Uruguay's first FIFA World Cup

Following the double Olympic triumph, Uruguay was chosen as the host nation for the first World Cup, held in 1930, the centenary of Uruguay's first constitution. During the World Cup, Uruguay won all its matches, and converted a 1–2 halftime deficit to a 4–2 victory against Argentina at the Estadio Centenario. Due to the refusal of some European teams to participate in the first World Cup, the Uruguayan Football Association urged other countries to reciprocate by boycotting the 1934 World Cup played in Italy. For the 1938 World Cup, France was chosen as host, contrary to a previous agreement to alternate the championships between South America and Europe, so Uruguay again refused to participate.

The team that beat Brazil in the decisive match of the 1950 FIFA World Cup to win Uruguay's second FIFA World Cup

Uruguay again won the World Cup in 1950, beating hosts Brazil in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. The decisive match was at the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. Uruguay came from behind to beat the host nation in a match which would become known as the Maracanazo. Many Brazilians had to be treated for shock after the event, such was the surprise of Uruguay's victory.[10]

Rodolfo Rodríguez raises the Mundialito trophy won in January 1981

After their fourth-place finish in the 1954 World Cup, the team had mixed performances and after the fourth-place finish in 1970, their dominance, quality and performance dropped. They were no longer a world football power and failed to qualify for the World Cup on five occasions in the last nine competitions. They reached an all-time low and at one time ranked 76th in the FIFA World Rankings.

In 2010, however, a new generation of footballers, led by Luis Suárez, Diego Forlán and Edinson Cavani, formed a team considered to be Uruguay's best in the last four decades, catching international attention after finishing fourth in the 2010 World Cup. Uruguay opened the tournament with a goalless draw against France, followed by defeats of South Africa (3–0) in and Mexico (1–0) respectively, finishing at the top of their group with seven points. In the second round, they played South Korea, defeating them 2–1 with star striker Luis Suárez scoring a brace and earning Uruguay a spot in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. Against Ghana, the match finished 1–1, forcing the game into extra-time. Both sides had their chances at extra time but Suárez blocked the ball with his hand in the penalty area, earning Suárez a red card and earning Uruguay universal scorn. Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan missed the subsequent penalty, forcing the game to go into penalties where Uruguay would win 4–2, sending them into the last four. They played the Netherlands in the semifinals but were beaten 3–2. For the third-place match, they played Germany, again losing 3–2. This placed Uruguay in fourth place for the tournament, their best result in 40 years. Diego Forlan was awarded the Player of The Tournament.

Uruguay - Saudi Arabia match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

A year later, they won the Copa America for the first time in 16 years and broke the record for the most successful team in South America. Luis Suárez ended up as the Player of The Tournament. In the 2014 World Cup Uruguay was placed in Group D alongside Costa Rica, England, and Italy. They were upset by Costa Rica in the opening match, losing 3–1 despite taking the lead in the first half. They rebounded with a 2–1 victory over England, in which Suárez scored a brace right after coming back from an injury, and a 1–0 victory over Italy, placing them second in their group and earning a spot in the last 16. During the match against Italy, forward Luis Suárez bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini on his left shoulder. Two days after the match, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee banned Suárez for nine international matches, the longest such ban in World Cup history, exceeding the eight-match ban handed to Italy's Mauro Tassotti for breaking the nose of Spain's Luis Enrique in 1994.[11][12][13] Suárez was also banned from taking part in any football-related activity (including entering any stadium) for four months and fined CHF100,000 (approx. £65,700/€82,000/US$119,000).[11][12][14] In the round of 16, Uruguay played Colombia but were beaten 2–0, eliminating them from the tournament.

At the 2015 and 2016 Copa América, Uruguay, missing banned striker Luis Suárez, were eliminated in the quarter-finals and group stages respectively. After a successful World Cup qualifying campaign, finishing second, Uruguay made it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Uruguay won its group after three victories, and advanced to the quarter-finals after a 2-1 win over Portugal.[15][16] However, they were eliminated 2-0 in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions France.

Home stadium

Since 1930, Uruguay have played their home games at the Estadio Centenario in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo. The stadium was built as a celebration of the centenary of Uruguay's first constitution, and had a capacity of 90,000 when first fully opened.[17] The stadium hosted several matches in the 1930 World Cup, including the final, which was watched by a crowd of 93,000.[18] Crowds for Uruguay's home matches vary greatly depending on the importance of the match and the quality of the opposition. World Cup qualifying matches often attract crowds of between 50,000 and 73,000.

Uruguay's stadium Estadio Centenario is one of the biggest stadiums in the world over 100m wide and 100m long.

Team image
Uruguay at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, wearing the light blue shirt they have worn since 1910

Between 1901 and 1910, Uruguay wore a variety of different shirts during its matches. The first shirt worn was the Albion F.C. one, in the unofficial debut of the national team v Argentina in 1901.[19] Then Uruguay worn a variety of shirts, including a solid green one and even a shirt with the colors of the flag of Artigas.

On 10 April 1910, now-defunct club River Plate defeated Argentine side Alumni 2–1, being the first time an Uruguayan team beat that legendary team. That day River Plate wore its alternate jersey, a light blue one due to the home jersey was similar to Alumni's.[20] Ricardo LeBas proposed Uruguay to wear a light blue jersey as a tribute to the victory of River Plate over Alumni. This was approved by president of the Uruguayan Association, Héctor Gómez.[21] The light blue (Celeste) jersey debuted in a Copa Lipton match v Argentina on August 15, 1910. Uruguay won 3–1.[22]

The red jersey that was used in some previous away strips was first used at the 1935 Copa América, held in Santa Beatriz in Peru, which Uruguay won. It was not worn again (except for a 1962 FIFA World Cup match, against Colombia[23]) until 1991, when it was officially adopted as the away jersey.[24]

Four stars appear above the team logo on the jersey. Two represent Uruguay's 1930 and 1950 World Cup victories, and the other two represent the gold medals received at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics and recognised by FIFA as World Championships.[6][7][9]

1901 [note 2]
1902–03 [note 3]
1905–07 [note 4]
1908–10 [note 5]
1910–present [note 6]
Notes
  1. Although the first match ever recorded by both, Argentina and Uruguay sides, was played on 16 May 1901, this is not considered an official game due to the match not being organized by Uruguay's Football Association but by Albion FC in its home field, "Paso del Molino". The Uruguayan team had nine players from that club and the remainder from Nacional.[2] Argentina won the match 3–2.[3]
  2. Shirt of Albion F.C., worn in the first match (unofficial) v Argentina due to the most part of the players were from that club.[2]
  3. Shirt worn in the first official match ever,[25] v Argentina in Montevideo in 1902,[19] also worn in a second game in Buenos Aires, 1903.[26]
  4. Model based on the flag of Artigas. This uniform was worn (at least) by a Uruguay representatives (Liga Uruguaya v South Africa[19] and Copa Lipton matches 1905–07).[26]
  5. Worn (at least) in the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo in 1910.
  6. Worn by first time in a Copa Lipton match on August 15, 1910.[21][20]

Kit sponsorship
Kit supplier Period
Adidas 1974–1982
Le Coq Sportif 1983–1986
Puma 1987–1991
Enerre 1992–1998
Meta 1999–2001
L-Sporto 2002–2004
Uhlsport 2004–2006
Puma 2006–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup
Main article: Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup

     Champions       Runners-up       Third Place       Fourth Place  

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pos Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 15 3 Qualified as hosts
1934 Refused to participate Qualified as defending champions
1938 Refused to participate
1950 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 15 5 Qualified automatically
1954 Fourth place 4th 5 3 0 2 16 9 Qualified as defending champions
1958 Did not qualify 2nd 4 2 1 1 4 6
1962 Group stage 13th 3 1 0 2 4 6 1st 2 1 1 0 3 2
1966 Quarter-finals 7th 4 1 2 1 2 5 1st 4 4 0 0 11 2
1970 Fourth place 4th 6 2 1 3 4 5 1st 4 3 1 0 5 0
1974 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 1 6 1st 4 2 1 1 6 2
1978 Did not qualify 2nd 4 1 2 1 5 4
1982 2nd 4 1 2 1 5 5
1986 Round of 16 16th 4 0 2 2 2 8 1st 4 3 0 1 6 4
1990 16th 4 1 1 2 2 5 1st 4 3 0 1 7 2
1994 Did not qualify 3rd 8 4 2 2 10 7
1998 7th 16 6 3 7 18 21
2002 Group stage 26th 3 0 2 1 4 5 5th 20 8 6 6 22 14
2006 Did not qualify 5th 20 7 7 6 24 29
2010 Fourth place 4th 7 3 2 2 11 8 5th 20 7 7 6 30 21
2014 Round of 16 12th 4 2 0 2 4 6 5th 18 8 5 5 30 25
2018 Quarter-finals 5th 5 4 0 1 7 3 2nd 18 9 4 5 32 20
2022 To be determined To be determined
2026
Total 2 Titles 13/21 56 24 12 20 87 74 – 154 69 42 43 218 164

Copa América
Main article: Uruguay at the Copa América

     Champions       Runners-up       Third Place       Fourth Place  

South American Championship / Copa América record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1916Champions1st321061
1917Champions1st330090
1919Runners-up2nd321074
1920Champions1st321092
1921Third place3rd310234
1922Third place3rd421131
1923Champions1st330061
1924Champions1st321081
1925Withdrew
1926Champions1st4400172
1927Runners-up2nd3201153
1929Third place3rd310246
1935Champions1st330061
1937Third place3rd52031114
1939Runners-up2nd4301135
1941Runners-up2nd4301101
1942Champions1st6600212
1945Fourth place4th6303146
1946Fourth place4th5203119
1947Third place3rd7502218
1949Sixth place6th72141420
1953Third place3rd6312156
1955Fourth place4th52121212
1956Champions1st541093
1957Third place3rd64021512
1959Sixth place6th62041514
1959Champions1st4310131
1963Withdrew
1967Champions1st5410132
1975Fourth place4th210113
1979Group stage6th412155
1983Champions1st8521126
1987Champions1st220020
1989Runners-up2nd7403113
1991Group stage5th413043
1993Quarter-finals6th412155
1995Champions1st6420114
1997Group stage9th310222
1999Runners-up2nd612349
2001Fourth place4th622277
2004Third place3rd63211210
2007Fourth place4th622289
2011Champions1st633093
2015Quarter-finals7th411223
2016Group stage11th310244
2019Quarter-finals6th422072
2021Qualified
2024Qualified
Total15 Titles44/462001103654406219

FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1992 Did not qualify
1995
1997 Fourth place 4th 5 3 0 2 8 6
1999 Did not qualify
2001
2003
2005
2009
2013 Fourth place 4th 5 2 1 2 14 7
2017 Did not qualify
Total Fourth place 2/10 10 5 1 4 22 13

Olympic Games
Olympic Games record
Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA
1900Did not participate
1904
1908
1912
1920
1924Gold medal1st5500202
1928Gold medal1st5410125
1936Withdrew[27]
1948Did not qualify
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976Withdrew[28]
1980Did not qualify
1984
1988
Since 1992See Uruguay national under-23 football team
Total2 Gold medals3/1910910327

Pan American Games
Pan American Games record
Year Round Position GP W D L GF GA
1951Did not participate
1955
1959
1963Fourth place4th410346
1967Did not participate
1971
1975Preliminary round11th201112
1979Did not enter
1983Gold medal1st440051
1987Did not participate
1991
1995
Since 1999See Uruguay national under-23 football team
Total1 Gold medal3/1210514109

All-time head-to-head record

Below is a list of all matches Uruguay have played against FIFA recognised teams[29] Updated as of 18 November 2019.

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

♦: Includes matches as  Czechoslovakia
†: Includes matches as  Soviet Union
‡: Includes matches as  West Germany
♣: Includes matches as  Yugoslavia
♠: Defunct team

Recent results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss

2019
6 September 2019 FriendlyCosta Rica 1–2 UruguaySan José, Costa Rica
20:00 (UTC−6)
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)
10 September 2019 FriendlyUnited States 1–1 UruguaySt Louis, United States
20:00 (UTC−6)
Report
  • B. Rodríguez  50'
 Stadium: Busch Stadium
Attendance: 20,625
Referee: Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)
11 October 2019 FriendlyUruguay 1–0 PeruMontevideo, Uruguay
20:00 UYT (UTC–3) B. Rodríguez  17' Report Stadium: Estadio Centenario
Referee: Arnaldo Samaniego (Paraguay)
15 October 2019 FriendlyPeru 1–1 UruguayLima, Peru
21:30 PET (UTC−5) Gonzáles  34' Report Núñez  80' Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Referee: Carlos Mario Herrera (Colombia)
15 November 2019 FriendlyHungary 1–2 UruguayBudapest, Hungary
19:00 CET Szalai  24' Report Cavani  15'
B. Rodríguez  21'		 Stadium: Puskás Aréna
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
18 November 2019 FriendlyArgentina 2–2 UruguayTel Aviv, Israel
21:00 (UTC+2) Agüero  63'
Messi  90+1' (pen.)		 Report Cavani  34'
L. Suárez  68'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Stadium
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (Israel)

2020
26 March 2020 (2020-03-26) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualificationUruguay Postponed ChileMontevideo, Uruguay
Report Stadium: Estadio Centenario
31 March 2020 (2020-03-31) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualificationEcuador Postponed UruguayEcuador
Report
3 September 2020 (2020-09-03) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifcationColombia v Uruguay

2021
TBA 2021 Copa AméricaAustralia v UruguayCórdoba, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
TBA 2021 Copa AméricaArgentina v UruguayCórdoba, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
TBA 2021 Copa AméricaUruguay v ChileMendoza, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
TBA 2021 Copa AméricaBolivia v UruguayLa Plata, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
TBA 2021 Copa AméricaUruguay v ParaguaySantiago del Estero, Argentina
Stadium: Estadio Único

Players

Current squad

The following 26 players were called up to the preliminary squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Ecuador on 26 and 31 March respectively.[30] The call-ups were withdrawn after the matches were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2019, subsequent to the match against Argentina.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Fernando Muslera (1986-06-16) 16 June 1986 116 0 Galatasaray
1GK Martín Silva (1983-03-25) 25 March 1983 11 0 Libertad
1GK Martín Campaña (1989-05-29) 29 May 1989 5 0 Independiente
2DF Diego Godín (captain) (1986-02-16) 16 February 1986 135 8 Internazionale
2DF Martín Cáceres (1987-04-07) 7 April 1987 98 4 Fiorentina
2DF José Giménez (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995 58 8 Atlético Madrid
2DF Sebastián Coates (1990-10-07) 7 October 1990 39 1 Sporting CP
2DF Diego Laxalt (1993-02-07) 7 February 1993 24 0 Milan
2DF Gastón Silva (1994-03-05) 5 March 1994 19 0 Independiente
2DF Matías Viña (1997-11-09) 9 November 1997 6 0 Palmeiras
2DF Ronald Araújo (1999-03-07) 7 March 1999 0 0 Barcelona B
2DF Damián Suárez (1988-04-27) 27 April 1988 0 0 Getafe
3MF Matías Vecino (1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 41 3 Internazionale
3MF Nahitan Nández (1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 31 0 Cagliari
3MF Rodrigo Bentancur (1997-06-25) 25 June 1997 29 0 Juventus
3MF Giorgian De Arrascaeta (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 25 3 Flamengo
3MF Federico Valverde (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 20 2 Real Madrid
3MF Gastón Pereiro (1995-06-11) 11 June 1995 10 4 Cagliari
3MF Brian Lozano (1994-02-23) 23 February 1994 8 0 Santos Laguna
3MF Brian Rodríguez (2000-05-20) 20 May 2000 6 3 Los Angeles
3MF Mauro Arambarri (1995-09-30) 30 September 1995 0 0 Getafe
3MF Nicolás De La Cruz (1997-06-01) 1 June 1997 0 0 River Plate
4FW Edinson Cavani (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 116 50 Unattached
4FW Cristhian Stuani (1986-10-12) 12 October 1986 50 8 Girona
4FW Jonathan Rodríguez (1993-07-06) 6 July 1993 20 3 Cruz Azul
4FW Darwin Núñez (1999-06-24) 24 June 1999 1 1 Almería

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Uruguay squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Gastón Olveira (1993-04-21) 21 April 1993 0 0 River Plate v.  Peru, 16 October 2019
DF Giovanni González (1994-09-20) 20 September 1994 8 0 Peñarol v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019
DF Mathías Suárez (1996-06-24) 24 June 1996 3 0 Nacional v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019
DF Bruno Méndez (1999-09-10) 10 September 1999 2 0 Corinthians v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019
DF Marcelo Saracchi (1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 4 0 Galatasaray v.  Peru, 16 October 2019 PRE
MF Lucas Torreira (1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 23 0 Arsenal v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019
MF Nicolás Lodeiro (1989-03-21) 21 March 1989 60 5 Seattle Sounders v.  Peru, 16 October 2019 PRE
FW Luis Suárez (1987-01-24) 24 January 1987 113 59 Barcelona v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019
FW Maxi Gómez (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 17 2 Valencia v.  Argentina, 18 November 2019

WIT Withdrew from final squad
PRE Preliminary squad
INJ Injured
RET Retired from international football

Previous squads

Coaching staff
Position Name
Head coach Óscar Tabárez
Assistant coach Mario Rebollo
Assistant coach

Goalkeeping coach

 Celso Otero
Fitness coach José Oscar Herrera

Records
Main article: List of Uruguay international footballers

As of 18 November 2019, subsequent to the match against Argentina.[31]

Most participations in the World Cup
Name Participations World Cups
Pedro Rocha 4 1962–1974
William Martínez 3 1950–1954, 1962
Julio César Cortés 3 1962–1970
Víctor Espárrago 3 1966–1974
Luis Cubilla 3 1962,1970–1974
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz 3 1966–1974
Diego Forlán 3 2002, 2010–2014
Martín Cáceres 3 2010–2018
Edinson Cavani 3 2010–2018
Diego Godín 3 2010–2018
Fernando Muslera 3 2010–2018
Maxi Pereira 3 2010–2018
Martín Silva 3 2010–2018
Luis Suárez 3 2010–2018

Most goals scored in the World Cup
Name Goals World Cups
Oscar Míguez 8 (5–3) 1950–1954
Luis Suárez 7 (3–2–2) 2010–2018
Diego Forlán 6 (1–5–0) 2002, 2010–2014
Edinson Cavani 5 (1–1–3) 2010–2018
Pedro Cea 5 1930
Juan Schiaffino 5 (3–2) 1950–1954
Carlos Borges 4 1954
Alcides Ghiggia 4 1950
Peregrino Anselmo 3 1930
Juan Hohberg 3 1954

Most games played in the World Cup
Name Games World Cups
Fernando Muslera 16 (7–4–5) 2010–2018
Edinson Cavani 14 (6–4–4) 2010–2018
Diego Godín 14 (5–4–5) 2010–2018
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz 13 (4–6–3) 1966–1974
Luis Suárez 13 (6–2–5) 2010–2018
Egidio Arévalo Ríos 11 (7–4) 2010–2014
Julio César Cortés 11 (1–4–6) 1962–1970
Martín Cáceres 11 (2–4–5) 2010–2018
Diego Forlán 10 (1–7–2) 2002, 2010–2014
Maxi Pereira 10 (7–3–0) 2010–2018
Pedro Rocha 10 (2–4–1–3) 1962–1974
Luis Ubina 10 (4–6) 1966–1970

World Cup winning captains
Year Name Career Caps Goals
1930 José Nasazzi 1923–1937 41 0
1950 Obdulio Varela 1939–1954 45 9

Record against teams in the World Cup
As of 6 July 2018 after the Quarter-finals match against France.
♦: Includes matches as  Czechoslovakia
†: Includes matches as  Soviet Union
‡: Includes matches as  West Germany
♣: Includes matches as  Yugoslavia

Friendlies

†played consecutively with Taça do Atlantica in 1976

Management

Competitive matches only as of 14 June 2016

Emblem
Uruguay national team fans at 2014 FIFA World Cup

Uruguay displays four stars in its emblem – uniquely in world football, it includes their two gold medals in the 1924 Olympics and 1928 Olympics, which are regarded as FIFA world championships by the governing body.[6][7]

The 1924 FIFA Congress ruled, “on condition that the Olympic Football Tournament takes place in accordance with the Regulations of FIFA, the latter shall recognize this as a world football championship”,[6][7] and the 1924 and 1928 championships are regarded as equivalent to World Cups in the 1984 Official History of FIFA.[6][7]

Hence Uruguay has two stars for 1924 and 1928 (recognized by FIFA as World Championships in accordance with the IOC) and 2 stars from the two World Cups from 1930 and 1950.[32]

Rivalries

Argentina
Main article: Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry

Uruguay has a long-standing rivalry with Argentina, that came into existence when they beat their South American neighbors 4–2 in the first World Cup final, held in Montevideo in 1930. As a response, the following day saw an angry mob threw stones at the Uruguayan consulate in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires.

Brazil
Main article: Brazil–Uruguay football rivalry

Uruguay has an old rivalry with their South American neighbors. Their best known match was played at the 1950 World Cup which was held in Brazil where they defeated the host with the result 2–1 in front of almost 200,000 spectators at the Maracanã Stadium, thus winning the competition and earning their second World Cup title.

Honours

Note: Below is a list of achievements by the senior national team

gollark: Sure! I'll write a compiler which is slightly slower in half the time!
gollark: It's easy and fast enough.
gollark: Er...no?
gollark: "Oops, turns out there's an out of bounds access, guess the missile will just be launched randomly"
gollark: They'd prefer a version which won't segfault when run.

See also

Notes
  1. Extra edition

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. "Historia del Fútbol Uruguayo" at Deportes en Uruguay
  3. "Historias, curiosidades y estadísticas de la Selección, tras sus "primeros" 900 partidos", El Gráfico, 4 July 2012
  4. Pelayes, Héctor Darío (24 September 2010). "ARGENTINA-URUGUAY Matches 1902–2009". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  5. After 1988, the tournament has been restricted to squads with no more than 3 players over the age of 23, and these matches are not regarded as part of the national team's record, nor are caps awarded.
  6. Perez, Alvaro. "No doubts exist. Uruguay are four time FIFA World Champions". La Celeste Blog. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2020. ; citing the book 100 Años de Gloria: La Verdadera history del Futbol Uruguayo
  7. "FIFA InfoPlus: Early years 1924 - 1930" (PDF). FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. "Football's debt to Uruguay". BBC Sport. 8 April 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  9. Archived 11 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Football, football, football". UruguayNow. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  11. De Menezes, Jack (26 June 2014). "Luis Suarez banned: Fifa hand striker record nine-game ban AND a four month football ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini in biggest ever World Cup suspension". The Independent. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  12. "Luis Suárez banned for four months for biting in World Cup game". The Guardian. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  13. "FIFA Suspends and Fines Suarez for 9 Games and 4 Months After Biting Player". ABC News. 26 June 2014.
  14. "Luis Suárez suspended for nine matches and banned for four months from any football-related activity". FIFA. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  15. "Uruguay beat ten-man Russia to win Group A". Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  16. "Uruguay beats Portugal to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup run". Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  17. David Goldblatt (2008). The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer. Penguin. p. 249. ISBN 1-59448-296-9.
  18. FIFA World Cup Origin, FIFA Media Release. Retrieved on 16 October 2006.
  19. Así ha evolucionado la camiseta de la Selección Uruguaya on MKT Registrado, 11 Apr 2018
  20. 100 años de la camiseta celeste on El Observador, 11 Apr 2011
  21. La historia de la Celeste on Montevideo Wanderers website
  22. Origen de la camiseta celeste on Montevideo Antiguo
  23. "Historical football kits: 1962 World Cup" at Historical Kits website
  24. ""Camisetas alternativas", La Selección website". Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  25. "Historias, curiosidades y estadísticas de la Selección, tras sus "primeros" 900 partidos", El Gráfico, 4 Jul 2012
  26. Argentina y Uruguay history on Viejos Estadios website
  27. "Southamerican Championship 1935". Rsssf.com. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  28. "Games of the XXI. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  29. "Uruguay all-time team record".
  30. "Oscar Tabárez reservó a 26 futbolistas del exterior vs. Chile y Ecuador". Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  31. Uruguay – Record International Players
  32. Orígenes de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.