Uruguay national football team

The Uruguay national football team represents the country on the international stage, participating in various matches and tournaments under the auspices of the Uruguayan Football Association. This organization, which joined FIFA in 1923 and CONMEBOL in 1916, is responsible for the team's governance.

The Uruguayan team is rightfully considered one of the most successful in world football. It has won two World Cups (in 1930 and 1950), two Olympic gold medals (in 1924 and 1928), and a South American record 15 Copa América titles. In 1981, the team also won the World Cup Gold Cup. It is noteworthy that Uruguay is the least populous country to have won a World Cup; Argentina, the second-most populous World Cup winner, has a population more than ten times that of Uruguay. Uruguay is also the smallest member of CONMEBOL. Only seven countries with smaller populations have reached the World Cup finals: Northern Ireland (three times), Slovenia, Wales (twice each), Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, and Qatar (once each).

The national team enjoyed its greatest success between the 1920s and 1950s. It was then that Uruguay won Olympic gold twice in a row (in 1924 and 1928) and the first FIFA World Cup on home soil. After missing two pre-war World Cups, the team made a triumphant return in 1950, famously defeating Brazil in the Maracanazo to claim its second world title.

The Uruguayan national team became the first team to win all three major international tournaments: the World Cup, the Olympic Games, and the continental championship.

As of June 20, 2024, the Uruguayan national team is ranked 14th in the FIFA World Rankings.