Uruguay 1930
The inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, hosted by Uruguay, marked the birth of the global football tournament that would become the sport's most coveted prize. The tournament was contested by 13 teams, invited by FIFA without the need for qualification. Uruguay, the Olympic football champions of 1924 and 1928, were celebrating their centenary of independence and were thus chosen as hosts, also partly due to their willingness to bear the costs. Uruguay lived up to their status as favorites by winning the tournament, defeating Argentina 4-2 in a thrilling final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, which was specifically built for the event. The tournament featured a total of 18 matches and showcased a contrast in styles between the South American flair and the European approach to the game. The success of Uruguay set the stage for the World Cup's evolution into the pinnacle of international football competition.
Winners and awards
Guillermo Stábile
Pedro CeaKnockout stage
| Final | ||
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay 4-2 Argentina 1930-07-30, 14:15 | ||
| Semi-finals | ||
| Argentina 6-1 United States  1930-07-26, 14:45 | ||
| Uruguay 6-1 Yugoslavia  1930-07-27, 14:45 | ||
group stage
| Group 1 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
2  Chile | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
3  France | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
4  Mexico | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 |
| Group 2 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Yugoslavia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
2  Brazil | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
3  Bolivia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Group 4 | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
2  Paraguay | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
3  Belgium | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Top scorers
Guillermo Stábile (8)Pedro Cea (5)Bert Patenaude (4) Preguinho (3)Manuel Rosas (3)Carlos Peucelle (3)Peregrino Anselmo (3)Ivan Bek (3) Moderato (2)Adolfo Zumelzú (2)