Uruguay have appeared in playoffs for places in the last three Men’s World Cups. They have now won two of them, as they defeated Costa Rica 2-1 on aggregate in the CONCACAF/​CONMEBOL playoff. Diego LUGANO scored for la Celeste in the first leg, and the teams were greeted by heavy rains for the return leg in Montevideo. Sebastián ABREU gave Uruguay a 2-0 aggregate lead in the 69th minute, but Walter CENTENO responded with a goal just four minutes later. Costa Rica, though, could not find the all important second goal, and Uruguay will appear at their eleventh Men’s World Cup.