Uruguay – La Celeste

World Cup Appearances: 1930, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026

Highest Finish: Champions in 1930 and 1950

At first glance, Uruguay’s jersey appears to tell a false story: four stars above the crest, despite winning only two FIFA World Cups. The answer lies in a unique chapter of football history. Uruguay won Olympic football gold medals in 1924 and 1928, tournaments that were organized under FIFA’s authority and widely regarded as world championships. Later, Uruguay captured the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 and added a second title in 1950.

Because FIFA recognizes the 1924 and 1928 Olympic triumphs as world titles equivalent in status to the World Cup for that era, Uruguay has long been permitted to display four stars on its badge.

Those four stars celebrate more than trophies. They commemorate Uruguay’s role as football’s first global powerhouse, a small nation whose golden generation helped shape the international game itself.