The Uruguay national football team won the 1930 FIFA World Cup, which was the inaugural edition of the tournament. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their journey to becoming the first World Cup champions:
Group Stage
Uruguay was placed in Group 3 alongside Peru and Romania. They played two matches in the group stage:
- Uruguay vs. Peru
- Date: July 18, 1930
- Result: Uruguay won 1-0
- Goal Scorer: Héctor Castro
- Details: Uruguay started their campaign with a narrow victory over Peru. The match was tightly contested, but Uruguay managed to secure the win with a goal from Héctor Castro.
- Uruguay vs. Romania
- Date: July 21, 1930
- Result: Uruguay won 4-0
- Goal Scorers: Pablo Dorado, Héctor Scarone (2), and Pedro Cea
- Details: Uruguay dominated Romania in their second group match, showcasing their attacking prowess. They scored four goals, with Héctor Scarone netting a brace, and advanced to the semifinals as group winners.
Semifinal
Uruguay faced Yugoslavia in the semifinal:
- Date: July 27, 1930
- Result: Uruguay won 6-1
- Goal Scorers: Pedro Cea (2), José Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte, Héctor Castro, and Pablo Dorado
- Details: Uruguay delivered a commanding performance against Yugoslavia, scoring six goals. Pedro Cea was the standout player, scoring twice, and Uruguay secured their place in the final with a dominant display.
Final
Uruguay faced Argentina in the final, which was held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay:
- Date: July 30, 1930
- Result: Uruguay won 4-2
- Goal Scorers: Pablo Dorado, Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte, and Héctor Castro
- Details: The final was a thrilling encounter between two South American rivals. Uruguay took an early lead through Pablo Dorado, but Argentina fought back to lead 2-1 at halftime. In the second half, Uruguay staged a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals through Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte, and Héctor Castro to secure a 4-2 victory. The win sparked massive celebrations in Uruguay, as they became the first-ever World Cup champions.
Summary of Uruguay’s Matches:
- Group Stage:
- Uruguay 1-0 Peru
- Uruguay 4-0 Romania
- Semifinal:
- Uruguay 6-1 Yugoslavia
- Final:
- Uruguay 4-2 Argentina
Uruguay played a total of 4 matches, winning all of them and scoring 15 goals while conceding only 3. Their dominant performances throughout the tournament solidified their place in football history as the first World Cup winners.