After reaching the quarter-final stage at the 2018 World Cup, Uruguay will look to get off to a winning start in Qatar when they take on South Korea in their Group H opener. This match will be played at the Education City Stadium on Nov. 24, with kickoff scheduled for 5 a.m. ET.
Uruguay finished third in CONMEBOL qualifying behind Brazil and Argentina, while South Korea finished as runners-up to Iran in their AFC qualifying group.
Both teams will be eager to get at least a point on the board as play begins in a well-balanced Group H, which also features Portugal and Ghana.
Uruguay vs South Korea Odds
- 3-Way Handicap: Uruguay (-117) | Draw (+230) | South Korea (+375)
- Draw No Bet: Uruguay (-300) | South Korea (+225)
- Over/Under Goals: Over 2.5 (+130) | Under 2.5 (-160)
- Both Teams to Score: Yes (+110) | No (-140)
Uruguay vs South Korea odds are current as of Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. ET on Caesars Sportsbook.
After winning all three of their group games at the last World Cup, Uruguay has been installed as the favorite in this opening match. Oddsmakers expect less than two goals to be scored, despite some of the attacking star power on both sides.
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Uruguay vs South Korea Prediction
Uruguay 1:0 South Korea
Uruguay has played just a handful of matches under manager Diego Alonso since he took over the job in December, but the early results have been good.
The former Inter Miami coach was able to turn things around in CONMEBOL qualifying, as La Celeste defeated Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, and Chile consecutively to qualify for Qatar after a losing run of four matches had brought an end to Óscar Tabárez‘s second stint in charge of the national team.
Alonso has experimented with different formations in pre-World Cup friendlies — including a 0-0 draw with the United States — but I’d be surprised if we didn’t see him start a pair of strikers given the depth Uruguay has in Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez, former Red Luis Suárez, and veteran Edinson Cavani. But unlike South Korea, which also features a pair of exciting forwards in Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Uruguay has much more talent throughout the squad.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde will be the talisman to watch in midfield alongside Son’s club teammate Rodrigo Bentancur. While the defense, which has typically been the strength of this side in tournaments past, has a mix of youth and experience.
While the Taegeuk Warriors will have an advantage in terms of consistency, having worked under Portuguese manager Paulo Bento since 2018, the talent advantage in this game lies with Uruguay if Alonso can choose the right system to get the most out of his players.
Uruguay isn’t the most adventurous team going forward, so keeping a clean sheet will be a priority. La Celeste will be well aware of the threat Son and Hwang pose on the counter and will want to turn this match into a slow-tempo grind. I think Uruguay is the more talented team overall, so I think they’ll be able to see out a low-scoring victory as they did four years ago against a similarly star-fueled Egypt side.
Uruguay vs South Korea Betting Tips
The first game of the group stage tends to be lower scoring, as players deal with the nerves of the occasion.
In 2018, two goals or fewer were scored in nine of the 16 opening group stage matches, with six games ending in a 1-0 scoreline. Among those results were South Korea’s loss to Sweden in Group F play and Uruguay’s victory over Egypt in its Group A opener.
Expect a similar type of game here.
Uruguay vs South Korea Best Bets
Under 2.5 Goals (-160) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.6 Units
I would be very surprised to see more than two goals scored in this match, even despite the attacking talent of Son and others on the pitch. Uruguay should be able to control possession and slow the tempo, which increases the likelihood of a lower-scoring game as they’ll play more conservatively in the opener.
Uruguay Moneyline (-117) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.17 Units
I’d be very interested in a 1-0 correct score prop when those are released, but for now, I’m going to back Uruguay to take all three points. South Korea could certainly spring a surprise upset, as they did against Germany four years ago in the final game of the group stage, but this Uruguay side should see this game out.
