Brazil has five stars, Germany and Italy have four stars. Why does Uruguay also have four stars?

Football fans know that winning one World Cup allows a national team to add a star to its emblem. Fans also know about Brazil's five stars, Germany's four stars, and Italy's four stars. So the question arises: why does Uruguay's national team emblem also have four stars?

It can be understood that winning the highest-level tournament in football at the national team level earns a star. Uruguay is a two-time World Cup champion, winning in 1930 (the inaugural tournament) as the host nation and in 1950 by defeating host Brazil (the Maracanã upset). Prior to that, Uruguay also won the World Football Championships in 1924 and 1928, which were later recognized as Olympic gold medals.

The first World Cup was held in 1930. Before that, the highest-level tournament in football at the national team level was the World Football Championships. Therefore, Uruguay's two World Football Championship victories are considered equivalent to World Cup wins, officially recognized by FIFA as two stars—a historical exception. Thus, Uruguay's emblem also has four stars, equal to Germany and Italy's four World Cup wins, second only to Brazil's five!