2024 Copa Uruguay

The 2024 Copa Uruguay (officially known as Copa AUF Uruguay 2024), was the third edition of the Copa Uruguay, the country's national football cup tournament. The tournament began on 10 August 2024 with 58 teams participating and ended on 6 December 2024.

2024 Copa Uruguay

Copa AUF Uruguay 2024
Tournament details
Country	Uruguay
Dates	10 August – 6 December 2024
Teams	32 (Proper competition) 58 (Including preliminary stage)
Final positions
Champions	Defensor Sporting (3rd title)
Runners-up	Nacional
Tournament statistics
Matches played	51
Goals scored	156 (3.06 per match)
← 2023 2025 →

The defending champions Defensor Sporting won their third Copa Uruguay title in this edition of the competition, defeating Nacional on penalty kicks following a 2–2 draw in the final.^[1]

Format changes

Starting from this season, the competition was trimmed down to 32 participating teams due to financial and scheduling concerns, considering that the previous year's competition had to be extended to April 2024. The competition was divided into a preliminary stage and five rounds in the competition proper, with ties in all stages played over a single match. 35 clubs from the Organización del Fútbol del Interior (OFI) entered a two-round preliminary stage in which they were drawn into four zones. The two winners from each zone as well as the winner of an additional interzonal match qualified for the competition proper.^[2]

The Copa Uruguay proper would be played by 32 teams: the 9 winners from the preliminary phase would be joined in the round of 32 by 10 teams from the Uruguayan Primera División, 6 from Segunda División, 4 from Primera División Amateur, 2 from Divisional D and 18 de Julio from Río Negro, the 2023 OFI Serie B champions, in a straight knockout competition. The amateur clubs from the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) and OFI played their round of 32 match at home. From this point onwards, the winners played against each other in single-legged knockout phases, with the semi-finals and the final played on neutral ground.^[3]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows:

Round	Draw date	Dates
Preliminary stage	2 August 2024[2]	10–18 August 2024
Round of 32	21 August 2024[3]	11 September – 10 October 2024
Round of 16		8–25 October 2024
Quarter-finals		29–31 October 2024
Semi-finals		22 November 2024
Finals		6 December 2024

Qualified teams

Although 32 clubs would take part in the proper Copa Uruguay competition for this season, a total of 58 clubs were slated to enter the competition: 10 from Primera División, 6 from Segunda División, 4 from Primera División Amateur, and 2 from Divisional D, which were chosen based on their performance at halfway point in their respective seasons.^[4] The remaining 36 clubs were the ones participating in the Copa Nacional de Clubes organized by the Organización del Fútbol del Interior (OFI), which were trimmed down to 10 after a preliminary stage.

On 4 September 2024, 11 of the 16 Primera División clubs voted to request to the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) the immediate suspension of the competition, in protest of the format changes implemented for this season.^[5] Five days later, seven clubs (Cerro, Cerro Largo, Danubio, Defensor Sporting, Montevideo Wanderers, Peñarol, and Progreso) sent a letter announcing their unwillingness to play the competition,^[6] with the AUF confirming the elimination of Peñarol, Danubio, and Cerro the following day.^[7] Although Defensor Sporting was among the clubs that signed the letter, they later backtracked and confirmed that they would take part in the competition.^[8]

Primera División The top 10 teams of the 2024 season's aggregate table after the Torneo Intermedio	Segunda División The top 6 teams of the 2024 season at halfway point	Primera División Amateur The top 4 teams of the 2024 season's aggregate table after the Torneo Intermedio	Divisional D The runner-up and third-placed team of the 2023 season	OFI 36 Serie A teams of the 2024 season
Boston River Cerro Cerro Largo Danubio Defensor Sporting Montevideo Wanderers Nacional Peñarol Progreso Racing	Albion Juventud Montevideo City Torque Oriental Plaza Colonia Uruguay Montevideo	Deportivo Colonia Durazno Frontera Rivera Villa Española	Paso de la Arena Rincón	18 de Julio Arsenal Atlético Bella Vista Atlético Florida Barrio Olímpico Berlín Boca (Melo) Boquita Bristol Campana Central Darling Estudiantes Estudiantil Ferro Carril Ferrocarrilero Huracán (Minas) Huracán (Paysandú) Ituzaingó Juanicó Juventud Unida Laureles Lavalleja (Minas) Lavalleja (Rocha) Libertad Litoral Melo Wanderers Peñarol (Rivera) Pirata Juniors Piriápolis Porongos Río Negro San Carlos Santa Emilia Sportivo Barracas Universitario

Preliminary stage

In the preliminary stage, the 35 participating clubs were split in four geographical zones (North, South, East, and Litoral), with one team from the South and East zones playing an interzonal match in the second round.

First round

North Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Arsenal	1–1 (1–3 p)	Litoral
Peñarol (Rivera)	3–3 (8–7 p)	Pirata Juniors
Estudiantes	1–2	Ferro Carril

Litoral Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Estudiantil	1–3	Bristol
Berlín	0–2	Santa Emilia
Laureles	3–0	Huracán (Paysandú)
Atlético Bella Vista	2–2 (8–7 p)	Sportivo Barracas

South Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Porongos	3–1	Juventud Unida
Ferrocarrilero	0–3	Campana
Atlético Florida	1–2	Juanicó
Boquita	1–2	Río Negro
Central	1–3	Darling

East Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
San Carlos	2–1	Boca (Melo)
Melo Wanderers	1–1 (5–4 p)	Libertad
Barrio Olímpico	1–2	Lavalleja (Rocha)
Huracán (Treinta y Tres)	1–1 (5–3 p)	Lavalleja (Minas)
Piriápolis	2–0	Ituzaingó

Second round

North Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Universitario	2–3	Litoral
Ferro Carril	1–1 (4–1 p)	Peñarol (Rivera)

Litoral Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Bristol	1–1 (5–4 p)	Santa Emilia
Laureles	0–0 (4–5 p)	Atlético Bella Vista

South Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Juanicó	2–0	Campana
Río Negro	4–0	Porongos

East Zone

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Melo Wanderers	2–2 (7–6 p)	Lavalleja (Rocha)
Huracán (Treinta y Tres)	2–4	San Carlos

South – East Interzonal

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Darling	1–1 (2–3 p)	Piriápolis

Bracket

	Round of 32				Round of 16				Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	Frontera Rivera	1
	Nacional	5
					Nacional	4
					Durazno	0
	Durazno	2
	Uruguay Montevideo	1
									Nacional	4
									Plaza Colonia	0
	Litoral	1
	Plaza Colonia	3
					Plaza Colonia	1
					Piriápolis	0
	Piriápolis (w/o)	—
	Peñarol	—
													Nacional	4
													Montevideo City Torque	0
	Paso de la Arena	0
	Montevideo City Torque	2
					Montevideo City Torque	5
					Río Negro	1
	Río Negro (w/o)	—
	Danubio	—
									Montevideo City Torque	4
									18 de Julio	0
	18 de Julio (w/o)	—
	Cerro	—
					18 de Julio	3
					Rincón	2
	Rincón (w/o)	—
	Progreso	—
																	Nacional	2 (1)
																	Defensor Sporting (p)	2 (3)
	Deportivo Colonia	1 (4)
	Juventud (p)	1 (5)
					Juventud	0
					Albion	2
	San Carlos	0
	Albion	2
									Albion	0
									Boston River	2
	Villa Española (w/o)	—
	Montevideo Wanderers	—
					Villa Española	0
					Boston River	2
	Juanicó	0
	Boston River	2
													Boston River	0
													Defensor Sporting	1
	Atlético Bella Vista	0
	Defensor Sporting	3
					Defensor Sporting	1
					Racing	0
	Bristol	1 (3)
	Racing (p)	1 (4)
									Defensor Sporting	6
									Ferro Carril	0
	Ferro Carril	2
	Oriental	1
					Ferro Carril (p)	1 (4)
					Melo Wanderers	1 (3)
	Melo Wanderers (w/o)	—
	Cerro Largo	—

Round of 32

Piriápolis v Peñarol

11 September 2024 (2024-09-11)	Piriápolis	w/o	Peñarol	Maldonado
20:00 UTC−3				Stadium: Domingo Burgueño Miguel
Note: On 10 September 2024, the AUF declared the advancement of Piriápolis to the next round due to Peñarol's withdrawal from the competition.[7]

18 de Julio v Cerro

11 September 2024 (2024-09-11)	18 de Julio	w/o	Cerro	Fray Bentos
20:30 UTC−3				Stadium: Parque Liebig's
Note: On 10 September 2024, the AUF declared the advancement of 18 de Julio to the next round due to Cerro's withdrawal from the competition.[7]

Río Negro v Danubio

11 September 2024 (2024-09-11)	Río Negro	w/o	Danubio	San José de Mayo
20:30 UTC−3				Stadium: Casto Martínez Laguarda
Note: On 10 September 2024, the AUF declared the advancement of Río Negro to the next round due to Danubio's withdrawal from the competition.[7]

Paso de la Arena v Montevideo City Torque

12 September 2024 (2024-09-12)	Paso de la Arena	0–2	Montevideo City Torque	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3		Report	Núñez 55' Obregón 70'	Stadium: Complejo Rentistas Referee: Kevin Fontes

Durazno v Uruguay Montevideo

17 September 2024 (2024-09-17)	Durazno	2–1	Uruguay Montevideo	Montevideo
11:00 UTC−3	Motta 11' Rodríguez 68'	Report	Cruz 86'	Stadium: José Pedro Damiani Referee: Andrés Martínez

San Carlos v Albion

18 September 2024 (2024-09-18)	San Carlos	0–2	Albion	Maldonado
20:00 UTC−3		Report	Ribas 29' Parada 69'	Stadium: Domingo Burgueño Miguel Referee: Juan Cianni

Melo Wanderers v Cerro Largo

18 September 2024 (2024-09-18)	Melo Wanderers	w/o	Cerro Largo	Melo
20:00 UTC−3				Stadium: Arquitecto Antonio Eleuterio Ubilla
Note: Melo Wanderers advanced to the next round due to Cerro Largo's withdrawal from the competition.

Bristol v Racing

18 September 2024 (2024-09-18)	Bristol	1–1 (3–4 p)	Racing	Mercedes
20:30 UTC−3	Pírez 10'	Report	Da Silva 17'	Stadium: Luis Köster Referee: Rubén Umpiérrez

Juanicó v Boston River

18 September 2024 (2024-09-18)	Juanicó	0–2	Boston River	Juanicó
20:30 UTC−3		Report	Barcia 23' Viera 43'	Stadium: Gloria de un Pueblo Referee: Pablo Silveira

Rincón v Progreso

18 September 2024 (2024-09-18)	Rincón	w/o	Progreso	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3				Stadium: Complejo Rentistas
Note: Rincón advanced to the next round due to Progreso's withdrawal from the competition.

Villa Española v Montevideo Wanderers

25 September 2024 (2024-09-25)	Villa Española	w/o	Montevideo Wanderers	Montevideo
15:00 UTC−3				Stadium: Obdulio Varela
Note: Villa Española advanced to the next round due to Montevideo Wanderers's withdrawal from the competition.

Frontera Rivera v Nacional

25 September 2024 (2024-09-25)	Frontera Rivera	1–5	Nacional	Rivera
20:00 UTC−3	Fernández 21'	Report	G. González 42' Castro 58' Petit 61' Mereles 68' Herazo 80'	Stadium: Atilio Paiva Olivera Referee: Santiago Motta

Atlético Bella Vista v Defensor Sporting

25 September 2024 (2024-09-25)	Atlético Bella Vista	0–3	Defensor Sporting	Fray Bentos
21:30 UTC−3		Report	Cuello 54' Ymbert 61' Luan Brito 84'	Stadium: Parque Liebig's Referee: Bruno Sacarelo

Litoral v Plaza Colonia

2 October 2024 (2024-10-02)	Litoral	1–3	Plaza Colonia	Fray Bentos
20:30 UTC−3	Morales 90+2'	Report	Moreira 36' Carrizo 73' García 83'	Stadium: Parque Liebig's Referee: Antonio García

Ferro Carril v Oriental

9 October 2024 (2024-10-09)	Ferro Carril	2–1	Oriental	Salto
20:00 UTC−3	Vera 14' Lescano 40'	Report	Núñez 62'	Stadium: Ernesto Dickinson Referee: Pablo Giménez

Deportivo Colonia v Juventud

10 October 2024 (2024-10-10)	Deportivo Colonia	1–1 (4–5 p)	Juventud	Colonia del Sacramento
20:00 UTC−3				Stadium: Profesor Alberto Suppici Referee: Diego Dunajec

Round of 16

Plaza Colonia v Piriápolis

9 October 2024 (2024-10-09)	Plaza Colonia	1–0	Piriápolis	Colonia del Sacramento
20:30 UTC−3	Moreira 90+4'	Report		Stadium: Juan Gaspar Prandi Referee: Federico Modernell

18 de Julio v Rincón

10 October 2024 (2024-10-10)	18 de Julio	3–2	Rincón	Fray Bentos
20:30 UTC−3	Morales Matonte González	Report	Burgos Fernández	Stadium: Parque Liebig's Referee: Kevin Fontes

Ferro Carril v Melo Wanderers

22 October 2024 (2024-10-22)	Ferro Carril	1–1 (4–3 p)	Melo Wanderers	Salto
20:30 UTC−3	Blanco	Report	Machado	Stadium: Ernesto Dickinson Referee: Pablo Giménez

Juventud v Albion

23 October 2024 (2024-10-23)	Juventud	0–2	Albion	Las Piedras
15:00 UTC−3		Report	Fernández Cuello	Stadium: Parque Artigas Referee: Federico Modernell

Villa Española v Boston River

23 October 2024 (2024-10-23)	Villa Española	0–2	Boston River	Montevideo
15:00 UTC−3		Report	Pérez 36', 85'	Stadium: Obdulio Varela Referee: Esteban Guerra

Defensor Sporting v Racing

24 October 2024 (2024-10-24)	Defensor Sporting	1–0	Racing	Montevideo
16:00 UTC−3	Barco 29'	Report		Stadium: Luis Franzini Referee: Leandro Lasso

Nacional v Durazno

24 October 2024 (2024-10-24)	Nacional	4–0	Durazno	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3	Sanabria 18', 63' Rodríguez 26' Petit 30'	Report		Stadium: Gran Parque Central Referee: Kevin Fontes

Montevideo City Torque v Río Negro

25 October 2024 (2024-10-25)	Montevideo City Torque	5–1	Río Negro	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3	Pino 15', 90' Obregón 24' Siri 38' Pizzichillo 75'	Report	Rodríguez 17'	Stadium: Parque Alfredo Víctor Viera Referee: Pablo Silveira

Quarter-finals

Albion v Boston River

29 October 2024 (2024-10-29)	Albion	0–2	Boston River	Montevideo
10:00 UTC−3		Report	Anello 27' Chiappini 45+1'	Stadium: Abraham Paladino Referee: Eduardo Varela

Montevideo City Torque v 18 de Julio

29 October 2024 (2024-10-29)	Montevideo City Torque	4–0	18 de Julio	Montevideo
15:00 UTC−3	Altez 5' Pereyra 20' Viana 45+2', 88'	Report		Stadium: Parque Capurro Referee: Andrés Martínez

Nacional v Plaza Colonia

29 October 2024 (2024-10-29)	Nacional	4–0	Plaza Colonia	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3	Velázquez 22' Lozano 24' Santander 36', 55'	Report		Stadium: Gran Parque Central Referee: Antonio García

Defensor Sporting v Ferro Carril

31 October 2024 (2024-10-31)	Defensor Sporting	6–0	Ferro Carril	Montevideo
20:30 UTC−3	Cadenazzi 15', 40' Barco 34' Dudok 44' Luan Brito 60' Giampaoli 85'	Report		Stadium: Luis Franzini Referee: Jonhatan Fuentes

Semi-finals

Boston River v Defensor Sporting

22 November 2024 (2024-11-22)	Boston River	0–1	Defensor Sporting	Montevideo
17:45 UTC−3		Report	Biscayzacú 90'	Stadium: Centenario Referee: Santiago Motta

Nacional v Montevideo City Torque

22 November 2024 (2024-11-22)	Nacional	4–0	Montevideo City Torque	Montevideo
21:30 UTC−3	Herazo 21', 55' Recoba 62' Petit 90'	Report		Stadium: Centenario Referee: Leandro Lasso

Final

6 December 2024 (2024-12-06)

20:30 UTC−3

Nacional	2–2	Defensor Sporting
Herazo 52' López 71'	Report	Spinelli 49', 90+10' (pen.)
Penalties
Castro Galeano López Bentancourt	1–3	Soria De los Santos Álvarez Biscayzacú

Estadio Centenario, Montevideo

Referee: Hernán Heras

See also

• 2024 Uruguayan Primera División season
• 2024 Uruguayan Segunda División season