First FIFA World Cup — 95 Years Ago
Uruguay hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup with 13 teams competing
July 13, 1930
Football's First Global Tournament
The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in July 1930, with 13 nations competing. Uruguay was chosen as the host because the country was celebrating the 100th anniversary of its first constitution and because the Uruguayan Football Association offered to pay all travel and accommodation costs for visiting teams. The tournament was organized largely because Olympic football had become complicated by debates over amateurism, and FIFA wanted to create its own competition without those restrictions. Transportation to South America in 1930 was by ship, and the long voyage put off many European nations. Only four European teams made the trip: France, Belgium, Romania, and Yugoslavia.
Uruguay Wins at Home
The tournament was played entirely in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital, with matches held at three stadiums including the newly built Estadio Centenario, constructed specifically for the tournament. Uruguay and Argentina met in the final on July 30, 1930, in front of a crowd of approximately 68,000 fans. Uruguay came from behind to win 4-2 and were crowned the first World Cup champions on home soil. The victory sparked massive celebrations across the country, which declared a national holiday. Argentina's loss was so bitterly received at home that Uruguayan consulates in Buenos Aires were stoned by angry fans.
Growing Into the World's Biggest Tournament
The FIFA World Cup has grown from 13 teams in 1930 to 32 in the modern era, with 48 teams set to compete starting in 2026. The tournament is now held every four years and is the most watched sporting event on Earth, with the 2022 final alone drawing an audience of over 1.5 billion viewers worldwide. More than any other competition, it has made football the world's truly global sport. Nations that rarely agree on anything come together every four years around the shared drama of the World Cup. The tradition that began with a few ships crossing the Atlantic in 1930 has become one of humanity's great shared rituals.