On July 7, in the Copa América quarterfinals, Uruguay defeated Brazil on penalties to advance to the semifinals. Following their disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Uruguayan team has resurgence, consecutively defeating both Brazilian and Argentine powerhouses in World Cup qualifiers and the Copa América, reestablishing a triangular balance of power in South American football alongside Brazil and Argentina.
In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Uruguay’s performance fell short of expectations, finishing with one win, one draw, and one loss, amassing four points and being eliminated due to fewer goals scored than South Korea. Many observers believed that Uruguay had slipped from the ranks of South America’s top teams, ushering in a new era of Brazilian and Argentine dominance.
However, after the setback at the World Cup, Uruguay promptly regained its footing. In previous World Cup qualifiers, they defeated Brazil 2-0 at home and triumphed over Argentina 2-0 away, giving both rivals a taste of defeat. In this Copa América, Uruguay maintained its strength, topping its group with three consecutive victories, and then eliminating Brazil in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, completing a hat-trick of wins over the two football giants!