Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 13 July 1930
- It is interesting to note that only four European countries sent their teams: Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia. In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.
The first World Cup began on this day in 1930. It took place in the relatively small South American country of Uruguay because the Uruguayan national football team won the gold at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
This country was also celebrating the centenary of its first constitution. Matches were mostly played in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the new football stadium Estadio Centenario was built for the mentioned world championship for men’s national association football teams.
This 65,000-seat stadium (there are actually probably more than 65,000 seats) is one of the football world’s classic stadiums. FIFA declared Estadio Centenario a historical monument of world football, the only building of its kind.
It is interesting to note that only four European countries sent their teams: Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia. Namely, some European teams didn’t want to travel long term. In total, 13 nations took part: seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America.
In the final, Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2, and the Uruguayans won the first World Cup. About twenty years later, Uruguay defeated Brazil in the final, and won the 1950 World Cup.
