Road to Qatar: how Uruguay qualified for World Cup 2022 - in pictures

A look at how Luis Suarez and Co sealed their spot at the finals

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  HOW URUGUAY QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: October 8, 2020. Uruguay 2 (Suarez pen 39', Gomez 90+3') Chile 1 (Sanchez 54'): A winning, if unconvincing start to the campaign for Uruguay as substitute Maxi Gomez's injury-time goal seals the points. Luis Suarez's first-half penalty was cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez. Getty

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  October 13, 2020. Ecuador 4 (M. Caicedo 14', Estrada 45+3', 52', Plata 75') Uruguay 2 (Suarez pen 83', pen 90+5'): A disastrous evening for the visitors who were reliant on Suarez's two late penalties to prevent total humiliation in Quito. Getty

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  November 13, 2020. Colombia 0 Uruguay 3 (Cavani 5', Suarez pen 54', Nunez 73'): Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez - for the fourth time in three qualification games - and Darwin Nunez scored the goals that ensured Uruguay returned to winning ways. Reuters

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  November 17, 2020. Uruguay 0 Brazil 2 (Arthur 33', Richarlison 45'): Striker Edinson Cavani was shown a straight red card after a video assistant referee review following a challenge on Brazil's Richarlison in the second half as Uruguay failed to register a shot on target in Montevideo. Reuters

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  June 3, 2021. Uruguay 0 Paraguay 0: The home side had to settle for a point after Jonathan Rodriguez had a goal controversially chalked off for offside, while Luis Suarez headed a glorious close-range chance over the bar. It left both teams with seven points after five games. Getty

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  June 8, 2021. Venezuela 0 Uruguay 0: A second goalless draw on the trot for Uruguay against a Venezuela side which went into the game having lost four of their five qualifiers so far. Getty

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  September 2, 2021. Peru 1 (Tapia 25') Uruguay 1 (De Arrascaeta 29'): A third frustrating draw on the spin for the visitors who were denied all three points when substitute Joaquin Piquerez struck the post deep into injury-time. Reuters

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  September 5, 2021. Uruguay 4 (De Arrascaeta 15', pen 67', Valverde 31', Alvarez 47') Bolivia 2 (Moreno 59', pen 84'). Uruguay ended their run of four matches without a victory by dominating from the start in Montevideo. Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice, while Federico Valverde scored from a free-kick, to leave the home side fourth in the table behind Ecuador, Argentina and table-topping Brazil. AFP

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  September 9, 2021. Uruguay 1 (Pereiro 90+2') Ecuador 0: Gaston Pereiro scored in stoppage time with Uruguay's only effort on target to lift them above their opponents and up to third in the table. AFP

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  October 7, 2021. Uruguay 0 Colombia 0: Luis Suarez put a glorious chance wide of the target and had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half as Uruguay were held to their third goalless draw of the campaign. AFP

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  October 10, 2021. Argentina 3 (Messi 38', De Paul 44', La. Martinez 62') Uruguay 0. Luis Suarez missed three gilt-edged chances - two saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and another that hit the post - before Uruguay meekly surrendered to defeat in Buenos Aires. Reuters

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  October 14, 2021. Brazil 4 (Neymar 10', Raphinha 18', 58', Gabriel Barbosa 83') Uruguay 1 (Suarez 77'): A second crushing defeat in succession for Uruguay who found themselves two goals down in the first 20 minutes. Luis Suarez's late free-kick proved little more than scant consolation. Reuters

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  November 12, 2021. Uruguay 0 Argentina 1 (Di Maria 7'): A super curling finish from Angel Di Maria was enough to earn Argentina a barely deserved victory over a much-improved Uruguay. Luis Suarez was denied a goal by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and then the post in a result that left his team in joint fourth place alongside Chile and Colombia. Reuters

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  November 16, 2021. Bolivia 3 (Arce 29',79', Moreno 45') Uruguay 0: A hammer blow to Uruguay's qualification hopes as Juan Arce scores twice for Bolivia with Marcelo Moreno scoring the other and missing a penalty, while the home team also had Carmelo Algaranaz sent-off in the second half. The 15-year reign of Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez came to an end days later. AFP

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  January 27, 2022. Paraguay 0 Uruguay 1 (Suarez 50'): A superb left-footed finish from Luis Suarez earned Uruguay three points and gave their qualification hopes a much-needed boost under new manager Diego Alonso. AP

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  February 1, 2022. Uruguay 4 (Bentancur 1' De Arrascaeta 23', Cavani 45+1', Suarez pen 53) Venezuela 1 (Martinez 65'): Uruguay find their scoring touch as Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Edinson Cavani all score in the first half, before Luis Suarez completed the rout just after the break. Uruguay had 22 attempts on goal during a night of domination in Montevideo. AFP

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  March 24, 2022. Uruguay 1 (De Arrascaeta 42') Peru 0: No repeat of the previous match's goalscoring exploits but Giorgian de Arrascaeta's goal just before half-time meant that Uruguay edged a tense encounter with Peru in Montevideo and sealed their place in Qatar. EPA

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  March 29, 2022. Chile 0 Uruguay 2 (Suarez 79', Valverde 90'): A bicycle kick from Luis Suarez and a last-minute Federico Valverde goal saw Uruguay end their campaign on a winning note and finish third in the table behind Brazil and Argentina. Reuters

The 2022 World Cup qualification campaign proved to the end of an era for Uruguay as record-breaking manager Oscar Tabarez saw his 15-year reign come to an end.

The 74-year-old, nicknamed ‘El Maestro’ for the way he revolutionised Uruguayan football, holds the world record for most games in charge of one nation – 224 – but was sacked following their defeat against Bolivia, their fourth loss in as many qualifiers.

Tabarez had been in charge since March 2006 and led La Celeste to the three successive World Cups in what was his second spell as manager that included reaching the semi-finals in the 2010 finals in South Africa and the quarter-finals in Russia 2018.

They won the Copa America in 2011 for the first time since 1995 under his guidance.

Tabarez also coached Uruguay from 1988 to 1990, a period that saw them reach the round of 16 at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Former Atletico Madrid striker Diego Alonso, who had been out of work since leaving Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in January 2021, was given the task of rescuing Uruguay's stalled quest to reach Qatar.

And Alonso had the desired effect as Uruguay won their final four qualification matches to seal their spot in the first World Cup finals to be held in the Middle East, after finishing third in the group behind Brazil and Argentina.

Luis Suarez, another former Atletico striker, finished as top scorer for Uruguay with eight goals — one more than Argentina's Lionel Messi and level with Brazil's Neymar. Only Marcelo Moreno finished ahead of 35-year-old Suarez, with the Bolivian scoring 10 goals.

In Qatar, they have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, Ghana and South Korea.

In the gallery above, you can see how Uruguay qualified for the finals that kick off on November 20. To view the next image, click on the arrows or just swipe if on a mobile device.

Uruguay's fixtures in Qatar

November 24 Uruguay v South Korea — Education City Stadium (5pm)

November 28 Portugal v Uruguay — Lusail Stadium (11pm)

December 2 Ghana v Uruguay — Al Janoub Stadium (7pm)