2023 in Uruguay

Association football

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2023 was a very rich year in football for La Celeste. Starting in January when the Under 20 national team after just falling short of Brazil in the last fixture, finished as sub-champions in the U20 South American Championship and qualified for the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina. Moving on to the senior team whom would play and draw against Japan 1-1 and win 2–1 against South Korea during the March FIFA friendlies after a horrible crash out in their group during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Coming back to the U20's, it is now May and the team win back to back friendlies against Honduras and Uzbekistan in preparation for their World Cup. May 22 now arrives and Los Charrúas start the journey through the World Cup and start by breezing through Iraq 4-0 for their opening fixture in Group E. Their second game against England would prove difficult as they would lose 2–3 in a hard-fought way. As they progress they face Tunisia and win 1-0 moving on to the round of 16. In the round of 16 they would win 1-0 Gambia and fight against the United States in the quarters and again win this time 2–0. Now as favorites Uruguay now face Israel in the semi-finals who in the quarters beat clear favorites Brazil. Before this game, Uruguay was facing a lot of pressure to win as Israel was going through a conflict with Palestine and was facing backlash including from previous hosts Indonesia which were stripped rights to host this World Cup now being played in Argentina. The match was goalless until the 61' where Anderson Duarte scored and match winning goal. Uruguay were in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2013. There was a lot of emotions for Uruguayans especially since they have never won the World Cup at the Under-20 level and haven't won a world title since the 1950 FIFA World Cup, almost 80 years ago. The final would be playing against Italy, who were major favorites for the tournament, and would be played in the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona. The match was dull and described as torture for many Uruguayans up until the 86th minute where Luciano Rodríguez who was back from suspended for a red card in the quarter final scored a header from and uncleared ball after a corner awarded to Uruguay. After a long and dull 16 minutes the final whistle blew. Uruguay were world champions for the first time since 1950. The whole country was celebrating for months at last a cup finally coming home and many young prophets at almost their breakthrough with names such as Luciano Rodríguez, Anderson Duarte, Fabricio Díaz and Randall Rodríguez.

After a couple months of celebrating it is now September and we shift our focus to the senior team where they will be starting their qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in their Estadio Centenario against Chile with their new and exciting manager Marcelo Bielsa appointed in May. There was a new Uruguay team, a young one and more refurbished one, controversially removing the likes of Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani and Fernando Muslera and instead bringing new exciting talent such as Darwin Núñez, Nicolás de la Cruz, Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte and more. Coming back to their game against Chile, La Celeste clear past them 3–1. Moving on to their second game against Ecuador the get shocked in a moving 2–1 loss before a 2–2 tie to Colombia. Bielsa knew he has to change how things go in this new team before they start competing again, especially when their next game is against Brazil. After a few tweaks they were ready to face an out of form Brazil. After a very hard-fought and emotional 90 minute's, they won 2–0 against Brazil for the first time since 2002 when they were fresh champions from the previous world cup. After all the emotions of their new and better national team, Uruguay remembered that they play the world champion Argentina next. Most of the country didn't think that Uruguay would pull this feat off of winning against Argentina after winning against Brazil and most were ok with it. After a couple weeks of rest and training it was time for matchday 5, Argentina vs. Uruguay in the La Bombonera. As the match progressed to the whole continent's shock by the half time whistle, Uruguay was winning 1–0. After a tough second half, in the 87th minute Núñez scores the game winner after a breakthrough making the final score 2-0 for Uruguay. For Uruguay's this was an incredible feat. Beating Brazil and arguably prime Argentina back to back is something unheard of for the country. For the world hearing the news about this "superteam" and their wins made Uruguay one of the favorites for the 2024 Copa America. After this crazy shocker Uruguay would play Bolivia at home for their final game of 2023, which they would win 3–0, concluding Uruguay's incredible journey through 2023 after a horrendous 2022 World Cup performance.

• 2023 Uruguayan Primera División season
• 2023 Uruguayan Segunda División season
• 2022 Supercopa Uruguaya