Montevideo, the world capital of football

Last update 21 May, 2025 by Alberto Llopis

Montevideo, Where football is breathed in every corner

If there is a city where football is lived with intensity, Emotion and sense of belonging, That is Montevideo. The capital of Uruguay, with a population around 1.100.000 personas (1.900.000 In its metropolitan area), is much more than a city: It is the soccer soul of South America.

Montevideo, Headquarters of the First World Cup in History

Montevideo was the host city of the first Football World Cup in 1930, a historical event that was played mainly in the Centenario stadium, that today remains a temple of world football with capacity for more than 60.000 spectators. Since then, The link between Montevideo and football has only intensified.

The capital with the highest number of teams per inhabitant

The city currently houses more than 20 Professional or Semiprofessional Clubs, and in the Uruguayan championship, of the 16 teams that usually participate in the First Division, until 14 They have their headquarters in Montevideo. This data makes Montevideo the city with the highest number of teams per inhabitant of the planet given the remarkable population difference in the Uruguayan capital with other much larger metropolis such as Buenos Aires or London.

Montevideo teams in First Division

In addition to the colossi Penarol y National —What domain divides the city between “coal” and “tricolores” - -, We found historical clubs as:

• Danubio FC
• Defensor Sporting
• Montevideo Wanderers
• River Plate (Montevideo)
• Racing Club de Montevideo
• Atlético Fénix Center
• Cerro
• Rampla Juniors
• Progress
• Liverpool FC (Montevideo)
• small hill
• Central Spanish
• Beautiful View
• Spanish Villa
• Albion fc

Compared, in London, in Buenos Aires, in Istanbul They concentrate so much football activity in such a small population.

Stages and infrastructure: A city prepared for football

Montevideo is not only rich in clubs, It also has a lot of Sports stages and facilities. In addition to the mythical centenary, The city welcomes enclosures such as:

• Great central park (National)
• Champion Stadium of the Century (Penarol)
• Hippodrome gardens (Danube)
• Estadio Luis Franzini (Defensor Sporting)
• Belvedere Estadio (Liverpool)
• VIERA PARK, Paladino Park, Saroldi Park, Nasazzi Park, Maracana, Palermo Stadium…

Most of these stadiums exceed 5.000 seating, which allows a unique football experience even in the most modest neighborhoods.

Montevideo, Cradle of passion and eternal rivalry

Located on shores of the Rio de la Plata And alone 80 maritime kilometers Buenos Aires, Montevideo maintains with the Argentine capital a legendary cultural and football rivalry. However, While Buenos Aires relies on its population size, Montevideo impresses with its density, tradition and incredible fidelity of their fans.

In each neighborhood, In each corner, Football beats strongly in Montevideo. A small city in size, But giant in history, GLORY AND FOOTBALLER PASSION. That's why, Many consider it the real world capital of football.