On Sunday, June 5, the United States Men’s National Team hosts Uruguay in an international friendly at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, in the second of four matches during the June international window (5 p.m. ET on FOX, Univision and TUDN).

The United States is coming off a 3-0 win over Morocco in Cincinnati on June 1, while Uruguay won a 3-0 friendly over Mexico in Glendale, Arizona on June 2.

HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL TEAM

La Celeste has one of the most illustrious football traditions in the league. In 1924 and 1928, Uruguay won back-to-back Olympic gold medals. They hosted the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, winning it 4-2 in the final after coming back from a 2-1 halftime deficit thanks to goals from Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte, and Hector Castro. In the first half, Pablo Dorado scored.

Uruguay won their second world title in Brazil in 1950, after declining to compete in the 1934 and 1938 games. They beat host Brazil 2-1 in front of a FIFA World Cup record crowd of 173,850 people at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, with to goals from Juan Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia.

Uruguay has not won a FIFA World Cup since, but the small South American country has had a number of strong teams, coming fourth three times in 1954, 1970, and 2010.

Uruguay won Group A of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with a perfect 3-0-0 record, outscoring its opponents 5-0. It beat Portugal 2-1 in the Round of 16 thanks to a brace of Edinson Cavani goals before losing 2-0 to eventual World Cup champions France in the quarterfinals.

HISTORY OF THE USMNT VS. URUGUAY

In a nearly century-long rivalry, the United States is 2-2-3 versus La Celeste. Uruguay was only the USMNT’s fourth opponent in its history.

On Feb. 7, 1986, in Miami, Fla., the teams battled to a 1-1 tie in their second meeting, which took place six decades later. The hosts took a 1-0 lead thanks to Bruce Murray’s first of 21 international goals.

Bora Milutinovic’s first match as head coach of the USMNT was a 1-0 victory over Uruguay at Denver, Colorado, on May 5, 1991. After a Chris Henderson free kick, Peter Vermes’ 15-yard effort entered the net in the 26th minute in front of 35,772 at Mile High Stadium, despite the Uruguayans claiming the former was offside. Tony Meola had a seven-save performance.
On June 16, 1993, Uruguay exacted a measure of retribution by defeating Ecuador 1-0 at Ambato, Ecuador in the opening match of the Copa America. Ostolaza, Santiago

In the Cotton Bowl match in Dallas on March 25, 1995, Mother Nature had the last word. The game was halted in the 83rd minute because to strong gusts that swept sideboards onto the field. The game, which had finished in a 2-2 tie, was called off by referee Antonio Marrufo. Before the South American team responded, Cobi Jones set up goals for John Kerr (eighth minute) and Earnie Stewart (67th minute).
On May 12, 2002, DaMarcus Beasley (above), the youngest player on the USMNT for the 2002 World Cup, scored the game-winning goal in the 40th minute in front of a crowd of 30,413 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. In the sixth minute, Tony Sanneh scored.

On September 10, 2019, Jordan Morris scored his first international goal in almost two years in the 79th minute at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, drawing the USA 1-1. Uruguay had taken the lead in the 50th minute thanks to Brian Rodriguez.