Football in Uruguay
Encyclopedia
Football is the most popular sport in Uruguay
. The Uruguay national football team
has won two FIFA World Cup
titles. The team won the first edition of the tournament in 1930
and won again in 1950
.
immigrants and expatriates in the 19th century. Some references say that the game had been introduced in 1880 at the English High School by Henry Castle Ayre. Henry Castle Ayre was born in Bedminster in March 1852 The first Uruguayan club team, Albion FC, was established at Montevideo
by an English teacher at the William Leslie Poole School in 1882. Uruguay is a country with a population that currently does not exceed more than 4 million, and features a large concentration of professional football teams in the city of Montevideo
. The two biggest club teams in the country's Primera División are Nacional
, founded in 1899, and Peñarol, which was established in 1891.
have won a number of international tournaments. In the Copa América
they are the most successful team, having won 15 titles. Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup
in 1930
, defeating fierce rivals Argentina in the final. In 1950
they won their second World Cup, defeating Brazil
in the Maracanã
in the final game.
Between 1970 and 2010 they failed to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup
, until the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, when they finished fourth.
clubs, Peñarol
and Nacional
. Penarol have won the Uruguayan Primera División 46 times and Nacional 43 times since it began in 1900. These clubs have also been successful in South American competition, with Nacional having won the Copa Libertadores three times and Peñarol five times, the last one reaching the final as recently as 2011
.
Most other clubs in top division are also from Montevideo, in the 2010-11
season, only one club, Tacuarembó came from outside the capital.
Many Uruguayan footballers have been successful in European football, including current players Luis Suárez
, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlán
, who has had a successful career at Manchester United
and in Spain with Atlético Madrid, where he won both the European Golden Shoe and Pichichi Trophy twice.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. The Uruguay national football team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
has won two FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
titles. The team won the first edition of the tournament in 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and won again in 1950
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
.
History
The sport was first introduced by BritishBritish people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
immigrants and expatriates in the 19th century. Some references say that the game had been introduced in 1880 at the English High School by Henry Castle Ayre. Henry Castle Ayre was born in Bedminster in March 1852 The first Uruguayan club team, Albion FC, was established at Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
by an English teacher at the William Leslie Poole School in 1882. Uruguay is a country with a population that currently does not exceed more than 4 million, and features a large concentration of professional football teams in the city of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. The two biggest club teams in the country's Primera División are Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
, founded in 1899, and Peñarol, which was established in 1891.
International Team
The Uruguayan national teamUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
have won a number of international tournaments. In the Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
they are the most successful team, having won 15 titles. Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
, defeating fierce rivals Argentina in the final. In 1950
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
they won their second World Cup, defeating Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in the Maracanã
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
in the final game.
Between 1970 and 2010 they failed to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, until the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, when they finished fourth.
Club football
Club football in Uruguay is dominated by the two big MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
clubs, Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
and Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
. Penarol have won the Uruguayan Primera División 46 times and Nacional 43 times since it began in 1900. These clubs have also been successful in South American competition, with Nacional having won the Copa Libertadores three times and Peñarol five times, the last one reaching the final as recently as 2011
2011 Copa Libertadores Finals
The 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals was the final two-legged tie that determined the 2011 Copa Libertadores champion. It was played in June 15 and 22. It was contested between Brazilian club Santos and Uruguayan club Peñarol. Santos made their 4th finals appearance and 1st since 2003. Peñarol made...
.
Most other clubs in top division are also from Montevideo, in the 2010-11
2010–11 Uruguayan Primera División season
The 2010–11 Liga Profesional de Primera División season, also known as the 2010–11 Copa Uruguaya or the 2010–11 Campeonato Uruguayo, was the 107th season of Uruguay's top-flight football league, and the 80th in which it was professional....
season, only one club, Tacuarembó came from outside the capital.
Many Uruguayan footballers have been successful in European football, including current players Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz , commonly known as Luis Suárez and nicknamed "El Pistolero" , is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team...
, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
, who has had a successful career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and in Spain with Atlético Madrid, where he won both the European Golden Shoe and Pichichi Trophy twice.