Uruguay 8–0 Bolivia
Míguez scored three, Schiaffino two and Vidal, Pérez and Ghiggia one each in Uruguay's only opening-group match.
Historic squad guide · Champion
Uruguay 1950 World Cup Squad
Uruguay's 1950 World Cup squad won the country's second title by navigating an unusual tournament format and defeating host Brazil in the decisive final-round match. The team played only four games, remained unbeaten and recovered from losing positions against both Sweden and Brazil.
Tournament resultChampion
Decisive matchUruguay 2–1 Brazil
Tournament record3 wins · 1 draw
Goals scored15
Goals conceded5
CaptainObdulio Varela
Top Uruguay scorerÓscar Míguez · 5
Head coachJuan López
Archive rating78
How the Uruguay 1950 team played
Juan López's side combined a strong central spine with flexible attacking movement. Captain Obdulio Varela controlled midfield rhythm and protected the defence, while Julio Pérez linked play in tighter areas. Alcides Ghiggia stretched the right side and repeatedly attacked the space outside Brazil's defence. Juan Schiaffino moved between midfield and the forward line, and Óscar Míguez provided penalty-area finishing. The team could defend compactly without becoming passive and was prepared to change momentum through direct, purposeful attacks.
Key players
Varela supplied leadership and the equaliser against Spain. Míguez scored five goals, including a hat-trick against Bolivia and two late goals against Sweden. Ghiggia scored in every match and delivered the title-winning goal against Brazil. Schiaffino contributed three goals, including the equaliser at the Maracanã, while goalkeeper Roque Máspoli and defenders Eusebio Tejera and Matías González resisted Brazil's pressure in the decisive match.
Legacy of the squad
The 2–1 victory over Brazil became known as the Maracanazo and remains one of the most significant upsets in World Cup history. Uruguay entered the final-round match needing a win against a host that required only a draw. The comeback, achieved before an official crowd of 173,850, gave Uruguay a second title in its second tournament appearance and turned Varela, Schiaffino and Ghiggia into permanent national symbols.
Every match from the tournament run
Uruguay 1950 World Cup results
Uruguay 2–2 Spain
Ghiggia opened the scoring before Spain moved 2–1 ahead; Varela equalised in the second half to preserve the unbeaten run.
Uruguay 3–2 Sweden
Uruguay trailed twice before Míguez scored in the 77th and 85th minutes to complete the comeback.
Uruguay 2–1 Brazil
After Friaça put Brazil ahead, Schiaffino equalised and Ghiggia scored the goal that delivered Uruguay's second title.
Verified lineup from the title-deciding match
Uruguay 1950 starting XI against Brazil
Uruguay's starting XI against Brazil used Roque Máspoli in goal; Matías González and Eusebio Tejera in the deepest defensive line; Schubert Gambetta, captain Obdulio Varela and Víctor Rodríguez Andrade across the supporting line; and Ghiggia, Pérez, Míguez, Schiaffino and teenage debutant Rubén Morán in attack. Position labels from the era do not map perfectly onto a modern formation, but Varela's central control and Ghiggia's width were decisive.
- 1Roque Máspoli
- 2Matías González
- 3Eusebio Tejera
- 4Schubert Gambetta
- 5Obdulio Varela
- 6Víctor Rodríguez Andrade
- 7Alcides Ghiggia
- 8Julio Pérez
- 9Óscar Míguez
- 10Juan Schiaffino
- 11Rubén Morán
Roles behind the tournament run
Key Uruguay 1950 player contributions
Obdulio Varela
Controlled the team's emotional response under pressure, protected the defence and scored the equaliser against Spain.
Alcides Ghiggia
Scored in all four matches and created or finished the decisive attacks against Brazil, including the title-winning goal.
Juan Schiaffino
Connected midfield with attack, scored three goals and equalised in the decisive match at the Maracanã.
Óscar Míguez
Led Uruguay with five goals, including a hat-trick against Bolivia and a late double against Sweden.
Roque Máspoli
Started the final three matches and resisted sustained Brazilian pressure after the host took the lead.
Víctor Rodríguez Andrade
Covered wide and central spaces and helped limit Brazil after Uruguay changed the momentum of the deciding match.
Suggested XI generated from archive order
7a0 suggested Uruguay 1950 lineup
This playable selection is separate from the verified historical final starting XI shown above.
22 players
Complete Uruguay 1950 squad by position
Goalkeepers
- #1MáspoliGK84
- #0PazGK75
Defenders
- #2M. GonzálezCB / RB80
- #3TejeraLB / CB80
- #4GambettaCB78
- #0W. MartínezCB / RB74
- #0VilchesCB73
Midfielders
- #0J. C. GonzálezDM / CB / RM77
- #5VarelaDM / RM88
- #6AndradeRM / CM / AM84
- #0PiniCM / AM73
- #0OrtuñoCM / AM71
- #8J. PérezAM / RW79
- #10SchiaffinoAM / ST90
Forwards
- #7GhiggiaRW86
- #9MíguezST83
- #11VidalRW / LM78
- #0MoránLW / LM76
- #0BritosLW / ST76
- #0BurgueñoST / RW73
- #0RomeroST72
- #0RijoST / LW71
Legend markers in 7a0
Featured legends
MáspoliVarelaAndradeGhiggiaSchiaffino
Uruguay 1950 FAQ
Who started for Uruguay in the decisive 1950 World Cup match?
Uruguay's starting lineup against Brazil was Roque Máspoli; Matías González and Eusebio Tejera; Schubert Gambetta, Obdulio Varela, and Víctor Rodríguez Andrade; Alcides Ghiggia, Julio Pérez, Óscar Míguez, Juan Schiaffino, and Rubén Morán. They defeated Brazil 2–1 in front of nearly 200,000 spectators.
Why was the 1950 World Cup final called the 'Maracanazo'?
The match became known as the Maracanazo because underdog Uruguay shocked tournament favorites Brazil in the newly built Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil needed only a draw to secure the world championship, while Uruguay needed an outright victory.
Who scored the winning goal for Uruguay against Brazil in 1950?
Alcides Ghiggia scored the winning goal in the 79th minute, beating Brazilian goalkeeper Moacir Barbosa with a low shot inside the near post. Earlier in the 66th minute, Juan Schiaffino had equalized after Friaça put Brazil ahead.
What was Obdulio Varela's famous speech before the Maracanazo?
Captain Obdulio Varela told his teammates in the dressing room: 'Boys, outsiders don't play. Let's make a match of it; if we respect them, they will run over us.' His fearless leadership kept the squad composed despite the deafening home crowd.
Was there a traditional knockout final at the 1950 World Cup?
No, the 1950 World Cup used a unique four-team round-robin final group featuring Uruguay, Brazil, Sweden, and Spain. The last match functioned as a de facto final because Brazil held four points and Uruguay had three points entering the game.
How many games did Uruguay play to win the 1950 World Cup?
Uruguay played only four matches to win the tournament: an 8–0 group win over Bolivia, a 2–2 draw with Spain, a 3–2 win over Sweden, and the 2–1 decider over Brazil. Several nations withdrew prior to the tournament, leaving Uruguay's opening group with just two teams.
Did Alcides Ghiggia score in every match of the 1950 World Cup?
Yes, Alcides Ghiggia achieved the historic distinction of scoring in all four matches Uruguay played during the 1950 tournament. He totaled four goals, including the decisive winner that silenced the Maracanã.
How many World Cup titles had Uruguay won up to 1950?
The 1950 triumph was Uruguay's second World Cup title, following their inaugural victory at home in 1930. Uruguay maintained a perfect record of two titles in two tournament participations up to that point.
What player ratings do Uruguay 1950 stars have in 7a0?
Juan Schiaffino and Obdulio Varela lead the Uruguay 1950 roster in 7a0 with 91 and 90 force ratings respectively, while Alcides Ghiggia holds an 88 rating on the right wing. The squad carries an 81 overall archive force score.
How can I draft the Uruguay 1950 squad in the 7a0 game?
Select the 1950 tournament edition in 7a0 to recruit Obdulio Varela, Juan Schiaffino, and Alcides Ghiggia into your lineup. You can recreate Uruguay's legendary defensive resilience and rapid counter-attacks in custom tournament simulations.
Sources and editorial review
Editorial review: 7a0.online
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25
Historical results and lineups are checked against the cited records. Player ratings, position eligibility and suggested lineups are independent 7a0 editorial values.