While we await confirmation of the next UFWC title match, here’s a classic match from the archives, in which the first official football world champions finally became unofficial champions.

Uruguay 3-0 Peru
28 March 1953
South American Championships
Estadio Nacional, Lima
Scorers: Pelaez (2), C Romero

Although Uruguay were enjoying their second reign as official world champions, having won the 1950 World Cup tournament in Brazil, the nation had never won the UFWC title. Their two previous attempts had resulted in defeat at the hands of Chile and Brazil. This match was part of the round robin South American Championships (known from 1975 as the Copa America), a tournament that Uruguay had previously won no fewer than eight times.

The 1953 South American Championships was scheduled to be played in Paraguay, but the venue was changed due to concerns over the standard of that nation’s stadiums. New hosts Peru had gone into the tournament with Northern Irish coach Billy Cook. But, after winning only one of their opening three matches, Peru dispensed with Cook’s services, replacing him with Uruguayan Angel Fernandez, a veteran of his country’s 1930 World Cup-winning side.

Fernandez’s first game in charge saw controversy as La Blanquirroja played out a disorderly 2-2 draw with Paraguay. The violent encounter led to Paraguay’s Milner Ayala being banned from football for three years for kicking English referee Richard Maddison. The game was subsequently awarded to Peru when officials realised that Paraguay coach Fleitas Solich had made four substitutions – one more than was allowed. Peru won their next match against Brazil 1-0 to take the UFWC title and set up an exciting finish to the South American Championships.

Ironically, Angel Fernandez would lead his adopted charges into battle against the home nation he served so well as a player. A win for Peru against Uruguay would give them an unassailable lead at the top of the tournament table. But the Charruas of Uruguay proved to be tough opponents.

The official champions took the lead against the unofficial champs midway through the first half through Donald Pelaez, a striker from Rampla Juniors. Pelaez netted a second after 67 minutes, and the game was sealed four minutes later by Carlos Romero.

There was another Romero on the Uruguay substitute’s bench – Hosiriz ‘Hos’ Romero was on the books of Liverpool at the time, although he never made a first team appearance for the English club.

So Uruguay were comprehensive victors, and became the undisputed football world champions as only the second team in history to simultaneously hold both the official and unofficial titles (after 1938 World Cup champs Italy won the UFWC in 1939).

As for the South American Championships, this result ruined Peru’s hopes, and wasn’t enough for Uruguay. Both sides finished one point behind joint-leaders Brazil and Paraguay. A playoff decider saw Paraguay beat Brazil 3-2 and win the 1953 South American Championships. Uruguay would go on to hold off a challenge from England in a 2-1 friendly match victory, before losing the UFWC title to Paraguay in April 1954.

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This is an edited extract from Unofficial Football Champions, the official UFWC book. It traces the history of the UFWC from the very first international match in 1872 via more than 800 title matches, involving legendary teams and footballing minnows, classic finals and forgotten friendlies, celebrated players and unsung heroes.

FourFourTwo magazine called Unofficial Football World Champions “a fascinating history of football” and awarded the book five stars. It’s available in paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
and other Amazon stores worldwide.

We’ll be back with news of the next UFWC title match as soon as the new challenger is officially announced. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in online casino gaming, why not give partycasino.com a try? And if you’re in need of some new T-shirts, do check out our range of 100% cotton shirts at the UFWC T-shirt store.

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Classic Matches Peru, Uruguay

Following yesterday’s first part, Peter Waring continues his round-up of UFWC spin-off competitions, today covering women’s national teams:

Women’s world championship. The United States were on a long run as champions before a sensational defeat to Mexico in November 2010. Canada then took up the reins, before the United States reclaimed the title in January. In April, though, the Americans were shocked again, this time by England. On 23rd May, Australia beat England 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up which, bizarrely, has not been mentioned in the English press, or indeed the English FA’s own website, despite it clearly being recognised by both Australia and FIFA. It was therefore Australia (WUFWC champions for the very first time) who took the title into the Women’s World Cup, only to lose their opening match to Brazil. The Brazilians swept aside Norway and Equatorial Guinea, but then lost on penalties after a thrilling match against the USA, who regained the title. The USA play France in the WWC semi finals on 13 July.

Women’s world wooden sp00n. Long-time holders Macedonia beat Luxembourg 5-1 in March 2011 to rid themselves of the sp00n. Luxembourg have suffered heavy defeats in all three matches since, including the first ever women’s world wooden sp00n match to feature a non-European team (Luxembourg lost 8-0 to Equatorial Guinea on 18th June). No further fixture is yet scheduled.

Women’s European championship. Germany have been holders ever since winning Euro 2009, and successfully defended their title in the World Cup, in their home country. They won all three group games, before being eliminated by Japan in the quarter finals, but of course that match was not a European game, so Germany retain their title.

Women’s European wooden sp00n. After Equatorial Guinea’s easy win over Luxembourg, the European wooden sp00n is still running in parallel with the world sp00n.

Women’s South American championship. In November 2010, Ecuador beat Argentina to take the title. They have not played since, nor are they due to do so any time soon. It was only the second time the title has ever changed hands (Argentina themselves beat original holders Brazil in November 2006).

Women’s South American wooden sp00n. Peru have held the sp00n since 2006. Four defeats in four World Cup qualifiers last November ensure they still do.

Women’s African championship. Equatorial Guinea, the 2008 African champions, fell at the last hurdle of their 2010 defence, losing to Nigeria in the final. Nigeria then lost to Ghana in a May friendly. The Black Queens have no current plans for a title defence.

Women’s African wooden sp00n. Guinea-Bissau took the sp00n in 2006, and have not played since.

Women’s Asian championship. Australia, South Korea, North Korea and Japan (in that order) have held the title in the last 12 months. Japan now hold both men’s and women’s Asian titles, as well as the men’s world title. Like their male counterparts, the Japanese women’s next defence is against South Korea, on 3rd September.

Women’s Asian wooden sp00n. Guam have held the sp00n since 2001, but haven’t played since 2009.

Women’s Concacaf championship. The United States’ run over 50 consecutive successful defences was an all-time world record, beating China’s 48 consecutive successful defences of their Asian women’s title from 1989 to 2001. However, they lost to Mexico last November. The title then went to Canada, and then back to the USA. Also the unofficial world champions, the USA have been unbeaten at the WWC, including a 3-0 win over Colombia, and can’t face another Concacaf team in that tournament. Another lengthy spell could be getting underway…

Women’s Concacaf wooden sp00n. Turks and Caicos took the sp00n in 2006; their last match was in March 2010.

Women’s Oceanian championship. The only teams ever to hold this title have been Australia and New Zealand. Since Australia’s defection to Asia in 2006, New Zealand have had it all their own way, winning five matches in the last year, in which they scored 50 goals and conceded none. They didn’t win a game at the WWC, but didn’t play any Oceanian opposition.

Women’s Oceanian wooden sp00n. American Samoa took the sp00n in 1998, but have not played since 2007.

To keep up to date with all of the men’s and women’s UFWC national team spin-offs, plus spin-offs involving club teams, such as European, English, MLS and Japanese unofficial championships, visit the UFWC forum.

Features American Samoa, Ecuador, Germany, ghana, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Peru, Turks and Caicos, USA