First World Cup Kicks Off: Football Goes Global
FIFA's first World Cup kicked off in Montevideo, Uruguay, on July 13, 1930, with only thirteen teams competing because most European nations refused to make the expensive two-week ocean crossing. France, Belgium, Romania, and Yugoslavia were the only European entrants. Uruguay built the Estadio Centenario specifically for the tournament, but construction delays meant the first matches were played at smaller venues. In the final, host Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 before 93,000 spectators, many of whom had crossed the Rio de la Plata by ferry from Buenos Aires. The tournament established football as a global sport and created the quadrennial tradition that now captivates billions.
July 13, 1930
96 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 13
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