1959 South American Championship: Uruguay's Tenth Title in Ecuador
The 1959 South American Championship stands as one of the most unusual chapters in the history of continental football. Held in Ecuador from December 5 to December 25, this event served as an extra championship for the year, occurring amidst a backdrop of political and organizational turmoil within South American football.
The tournament was officially named the Copa del Centenario de la Batalla de Quito (Centenary Cup of the Battle of Quito) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Eloy Alfaro, a significant political figure in Ecuador. While the competition featured five nations, it was marked by the absence of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Notably, Brazil participated using a representative team from Pernambuco.
Key Facts
- Champion: Uruguay (their 10th title).
- Host City: Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- Venue: Estadio Modelo (Capacity: 42,000).
- Top Scorer: José Sanfilippo (Argentina) with 6 goals.
- Total Goals: 40 goals scored across 10 matches.
- Format: Round-robin (2 points for a win, 1 for a draw).
Tournament Format and Venue
The competition followed a standard round-robin tournament format, meaning every participating team played every other team once. Points were awarded based on a traditional system: two points for a victory, one for a draw, and zero for a defeat. The team accumulating the most points by the end of the schedule was crowned the winner.
All matches were centralized in the city of Guayaquil at the Estadio Modelo, which provided a capacity of 42,000 spectators to witness the action.
The Path to Victory
Uruguay dominated the tournament, remaining undefeated throughout the competition. Their campaign was highlighted by a commanding 5–0 victory over Argentina and a 4–0 win against the hosts, Ecuador. Their only stumble was a 1–1 draw against Paraguay, but it was enough to secure their 10th South American title.
Argentina finished as runners-up, while Brazil took third place. Ecuador, the host nation, finished fourth, and Paraguay ended the tournament in fifth place.
Despite Uruguay's team success, Argentina's José Sanfilippo emerged as the individual standout, netting six goals to become the tournament's top scorer.
Final Standings Table
| Team | Played | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 7 |
| Argentina | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 5 |
| Brazil | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | –3 | 4 |
| Ecuador | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | –4 | 3 |
| Paraguay | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | –5 | 1 |
Organizational Controversy
The road to the December tournament in Ecuador was fraught with conflict. Originally, Ecuador was slated to host the 1959 Copa America, but they withdrew months before the start due to infrastructure challenges and financial difficulties. Argentina stepped in to host the event in Buenos Aires.
This move sparked a diplomatic rift. Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile questioned the legitimacy of Argentina's appointment without a formal bidding process. In protest, these nations refused to participate in the Argentine-hosted event and instead organized their own competition, the Copa del Atlántico.
As a result, 1959 saw multiple competing versions of the championship: the official tournament in Argentina (won by Argentina), the Copa del Atlántico in Brazil (won by Brazil), and finally, the commemorative tournament in Ecuador won by Uruguay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1959 South American Championship in Ecuador?
Uruguay won the tournament, securing their 10th South American title.
Who was the top scorer of the tournament?
José Sanfilippo of Argentina was the top scorer, finishing the competition with 6 goals.
Why were there multiple tournaments in 1959?
Disagreements over Argentina being granted hosting rights without a bidding process led some nations to boycott the official event and organize the Copa del Atlántico, while the Ecuador tournament was held to honor the centenary of Eloy Alfaro.
Which venue hosted the matches in Ecuador?
All matches were played at the Estadio Modelo in Guayaquil, which had a capacity of 42,000.
How many goals were scored in total during the event?
A total of 40 goals were scored across 10 matches, averaging 4 goals per game.