Uruguay open their campaign against tough Koreans

Inaugural hosts and winners Uruguay kick off their 14th FIFA World Cup campaign at the Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, against Korea Republic, who are representing Asia for a record-extending tenth finals in a row.

The teams’ paths have crossed twice previously at the tournament, Uruguay winning both games, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 2010.

World champions in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay were semi-finalists in 2010 and quarter-finalists in 2018. They will not lack for experience in Qatar, their squad containing five players participating in their fourth FIFA World Cup.

Korea Republic are Asia’s most frequent FIFA World Cup participants, this being their 11th appearance. They reached the semi-finals of the 2002 tournament, which they co-hosted with Japan, while they last progressed from the group stage in South Africa in 2010.

Quarter-finalists in 2018, Uruguay have only failed to qualify for the knockout stage in one of their last six World Cup appearances.

Fernando Muslera, Martín Cáceres, Luis Suárez, Diego Godín and Edinson Cavani are all featuring at their fourth World Cup, a feat only previously achieved by one Uruguayan player – Pedro Rocha (1962-1974)

Korea Republic have featured at the FIFA World Cup on more occasions than any other Asian nation, and Qatar 2022 will be their 11th participation since they made their debut in 1954.

Qualification for the 2022 finals has extended Korea Republic’s impressive run of successive FIFA World Cup appearances to ten in a row, every edition since 1986, which is a record for a country who have never lifted the trophy.

The South Americans are regarded by many as being one of the teams who could go all the way in Qatar. 

With Argentina having fallen so mightily against Saudi Arabia and Japan overcoming the Germans though, the eyes of the world will switch to this game to if Asia can again topple a giant of the world game in this extraordinary tournament.

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