Uruguay U20

Beginnings (1900–1916)

Historically, football has been a fundamental element in the consolidation of Uruguayan nationality and in projecting Uruguay's image internationally at the beginning of the 20th century.

Uruguay is one of the most successful teams in the world, having won nineteen official competitions recognized by FIFA, a world record at senior national team level. These include two editions of the FIFA World Cup, two editions of the Olympic Games when they were contested by senior national teams and organized by FIFA (at that time, the only global-level football competition), and fifteen editions of the Copa América.

Uruguay was the first national team, along with Argentina, to play an international match outside the British Isles, on 16 May 1901 in Montevideo, with Argentina winning 3–2. However, because the sides were combined teams rather than national selections, the match is considered unofficial. In that game, Frank Chevallier Boutell, president of the Argentine Association Football League, served as a linesman.

A precedent suggests there was an even earlier match, though not between the two countries' national teams, but between representative teams of their capitals, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, on 15 August 1889. Two representative sides from the two capitals faced each other in commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Supposedly, the match took place at the so-called New Ground in La Blanqueada and ended with a 3–0 victory for the Buenos Aires team over the Montevideo team.

The first official match between the national teams of Uruguay and Argentina was played on 20 July 1902 at the Albion ground, with Argentina winning 6–0 (to this day the heaviest away win in the derby). Of Uruguay's starting eleven, 8 were from Club Nacional de Football. Uruguay's lineup was: Enrique Sardeson (Albion), Carlos Carve Urioste (Nacional), Germán Arímalo (Nacional), Miguel Nebel (capt.) (Nacional), Alberto Peixoto (Albion), Luis Carbone (Nacional), Bolívar Céspedes (Nacional), Gonzalo Rincón (Nacional), Juan Sardeson (Albion), Ernesto Boutón Reyes (Nacional), and Carlos Céspedes (Nacional). Goalscorers were Bolívar Céspedes and William Poole.

On 13 September 1903, Uruguay won its first match, defeating Argentina in Buenos Aires 3–2 with a team made up entirely of Nacional players.

Their nickname, La Celeste ("the Sky Blue"), dates back to its first international victory in Montevideo on 15 August 1910, when it beat Argentina 3–1 in the first match in which it wore its sky-blue jersey. This kit was adopted as a national emblem in recognition of the triumph shortly before by River Plate Football Club over the powerful Alumni Athletic Club of Buenos Aires, 2–1, using those same colors.

First international successes (1916–1924)

Uruguay won the first two editions of the South American Championship: the first held in Buenos Aires in 1916 and the second in 1917, in Montevideo.

The Uruguayan national team became the first continental champion, finishing ahead of Argentina in the 1916 Copa América, played in Buenos Aires. The tournament had a round-robin format: a 0–0 draw against Argentina on the final match-day gave the title to La Celeste.

Uruguay also won the following 1917 Copa América, this time as hosts. Once again, the title was decided in the last round against Argentina, and Uruguay prevailed 1–0 to become champions of South America for the second consecutive time.

In the 1919 Copa América held in Brazil, Uruguay again reached the decisive match. After drawing 2–2 against the hosts, both teams finished level on points, forcing a playoff. The playoff was won 1–0 by Brazil, who claimed their first continental title, with Uruguay finishing as runner-up.