Uruguayan Primera División
The Uruguayan Primera División, officially called the Campeonato Uruguayo, is the top professional football league in Uruguay.
Founded in 1900, it is one of the oldest football leagues in the world and home to two historic giants:
Nacional and Peñarol.
History and facts
The Primera División was founded in 1900, making Uruguay one of the earliest adopters of organized football in the Americas. The league has been dominated by the two giants — Nacional and Peñarol — who have produced many global legends.
The league usually features 16 teams, playing Apertura, Clausura, and an annual table known as the Tabla Anual.
Uruguay is also famous for producing players like Enzo Francescoli, Diego Forlán, Edinson Cavani, and Luis Suárez.
League system
The Primera División is the top level, with relegation to Segunda División using a unique three-season average system.
Table 1. Uruguayan football tiers
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Primera División | 1 |
| Segunda División | 2 |
| Segunda División Amateur | 3 |
Below tier 3, the structure continues with regional amateur competitions.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Clubs with most Primera División titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Peñarol | 50+ |
| Nacional | 49+ |
| Defensor Sporting | 4 |
| Danubio | 4 |
| Montevideo Wanderers | 2 |
| River Plate (URU) | 1 |
Peñarol and Nacional dominate the league with over 100 combined titles.
Teams with most league participation
Table 3. Clubs with most Primera División seasons
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Nacional | 120+ |
| Peñarol | 120+ |
| Defensor Sporting | 100+ |
| Montevideo Wanderers | 100+ |
| Danubio | 80+ |
Nacional and Peñarol have participated in nearly every season since the league’s founding.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums in Uruguay
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Peñarol | Estadio Campeón del Siglo | 40,000 |
| Nacional | Gran Parque Central | 34,000 |
| Uruguay NT (shared) | Estadio Centenario | 60,235 |
| Defensor Sporting | Estadio Luis Franzini | 16,000 |
| Danubio | Estadio Jardines del Hipódromo | 18,000 |
Players
Top goalscorers
- Fernando Morena — all-time leading scorer
- Héctor Scarone — early era legend
- Jorge Fossati
- Rubén Sosa
- Diego Forlán — Peñarol star
Uruguayan Primera División timeline
1900
The Uruguayan Primera División is founded.
1930
Estadio Centenario hosts the first FIFA World Cup.
1960
Nacional and Peñarol dominate continental tournaments.
1988
Danubio breaks the traditional dominance by winning the title.
2020
Season schedule modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Primera_División
https://www.auf.org.uy
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayan_Primera_División
https://www.auf.org.uy
https://www.rsssf.org
