Uruguay heading to Korea 2017 - FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP
 |
| AFP |
Uruguay have clinched their place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017, the first team from South America to secure a spot at the global finals that kick off in May.
La Celeste took the first of four tickets on offer at the South American U-20 Championship in Ecuador after securing three wins out of three in the final stage of the tournament.
Having topped their initial group, Fabian Coito’s side swept past old rivals Argentina 3-0, before a last-minute victory over Brazil and a 3-0 win over Colombia confirmed their place. Korea Republic will be Uruguay's 14th trip to the finals - they are currently on a run of six straight appearances - with two runners-up finishes to their name in 1997 and 2013.
The winner of the continental tournament, and the quartet of qualifiers progressing from the six-team final group, will be known by 11 February.
They join the 12 teams from Asia, Europe and Oceania to have already booked their place in Korea Republic. The four teams from each of North, Central America and the Caribbean zone and Africa are set to be fought for during February and March, with the draw for the U-20 World Cup set to take place on 15 March.