How will Uruguay fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at La Celeste in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
Uruguay History at the World Cup
Uruguay are one of only six nations to win the World Cup on multiple occasions, lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy as hosts in 1930 and defeating Brazil at the Maracanã in 1950.
The 2022 World Cup will make it four successive World Cup qualifications after they missed out in 2006.
Despite such a rich history in the competition, the Uruguayans have been far from a guarantee to appear in the tournament, having failed to qualify for five of eight World Cups between 1978 and 2006.
Since being named world champions for a second time 72 years ago, Uruguay have been semi-finalists on three occasions, ultimately finishing fourth in 1954, 1970 and 2010.
Uruguay qualify for the World Cup! 🇺🇾
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) March 25, 2022
Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Diego Godin and co. are bound for Qatar 👏 pic.twitter.com/Zkv31GmUte
There were also quarter-final exits in 1966 and 2018. Only three times in their history have they fallen at the group stage, the most recent of which was 2002.
Uruguay has produced a lone Golden Ball winner (Diego Forlan in 2010), and had three unofficial Golden Glove winners in Enrique Ballesteros, Roque Máspoli and Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.
Fernando Muslera is Uruguay’s all-time World Cup appearance record holder with 16, ahead of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin on 14 each.
Óscar Míguez has scored the most World Cup goals with eight, which were split across the 1950 and 1954 editions.
Uruguay Nickname
Uruguay’s nickname is La Celeste, meaning ‘The Sky Blue’.
Just like many football teams around the world, this nickname isn’t exactly inventive and is simply a recognition of their main home kit colour.
World Cup 2022 Group
Uruguay are alongside Portugal, South Korea and Ghana in Group H for this winter’s World Cup.
La Celeste will be desperate to start the tournament with a win before facing Portugal in the second round of fixtures.
They will inevitably be favoured and a popular pick in football tips against both South Korea and Ghana.
Uruguay Fixtures:
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Uruguay vs South Korea – 24th November 2022
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Uruguay vs Portugal – 28th November 2022
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Uruguay vs Ghana – 2nd December 2022
Uruguay Kit World Cup 2022
Puma have disappointed with the Uruguay World Cup kits. The shade of blue for the home is great, but the collar and button is a bit of an eyesore and it’s unclear why they have four stars for a couple of World Cup wins.
Uruguay's FIFA World Cup kit is here 🔥
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 30, 2022
Would you buy it?
(via @Uruguay) pic.twitter.com/3ps3Q2vxT7
Like other Puma kits at this World Cup, the away attire is a shocker. The blue and white around the collar and sleeves is nice, but the box in the middle is bizarre.
Who Is The Uruguay Manager?
Diego Alonso, formerly of Inter Miami, is manager of Uruguay for the World Cup in Qatar. Alonso has taken charge of just nine matches, winning seven of them.
He replaced long-serving Óscar Tabárez in 2021 after poor results in the first rounds of World Cup qualifying.
Best Uruguay Player
This Uruguay squad is blessed with talent from the veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to hard-nosed centre-back Jose Gimenez and post-peak stars Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.
The best of the bunch coming into the World Cup, though, is Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, closely followed by Rodrigo Bentancur and Darwin Nunez.
Time to enjoy @Darwinn99’s first Anfield goal for the Reds from every angle 😍
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 20, 2022
Presented by @Sonos 🎥 pic.twitter.com/qLTtPzIbdt
Uruguay Odds at 2022 World Cup
Uruguay are 21/10 in World Cup odds to win Group H. They are behind only Portugal in the betting and favoured over Ghana and South Korea.
A deep run is not expected, however, with the South Americans priced at 23/10 to play in the quarters and way out at 45s to lift the trophy.
Bet on Uruguay at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
