The 1930 FIFA World Cup was a footballsporting event that was held in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930. Thirteen teams competed in the first World Cup. Seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America. The teams were split into four groups with the winner of each group entering the semi-finals. The final saw Uruguay winning the trophy after beating Argentina.
This was the only World Cup to not have qualifiers. This is because every FIFA member was invited to join the tournament. Most of the interest came from South America where seven nations entered. This was the most South American nations that had entered the World Cup throughout its history. Few European nations took part because of cost from travelling the Atlantic Ocean from Europe.[1]
Group One was the only group to have four teams. They were Argentina, France, Chile and Mexico. Finish top of the group was Argentina. This was because they won all three of their matches in the group. This included a six to three win over Mexico with Guillermo Stábile scoring three.[2] Second place went to Chile while France came in third.
Yugoslavia won Group Two as they won both matches in their group to become the only European team to qualify. This was after they won two to one over likely winners Brazil in the first game.[3] They beat Bolivia four to nil in the second game to end in first place. Brazil beat Bolivia in the final game of the group by the same scoreline.
In Group Three, the host nation (Uruguay) finish with the two wins to go through to the knockouts. After a one-goal win over Peru, they beat Romania in game three of the group without giving away a goal. During that match, they scored with four different players in the four to nil victory. The other match in the group saw the smallest crowd at a World Cup with 2,459. The actual figure though is to be around 300 people.[4]
The final group had the United States take top spot as they won over Belgium and Paraguay by the same score (three to nil). During the Paraguay game, Bert Patenaude was credited as the first player to score a hat-trick in the match.[5] The last match of the group saw Paraguay beat Belgium one to nil.
The four winners, Argentina, United States, Uruguay and Yugoslavia met in two games to see who would make the final. In the first match, the pitch had puddles all through the pitch.
Uruguay won the championship. Although there was no third place play off, the United States are recognised as coming in third place (and Yugoslavia in fourth place) as the United States had better results in the tournament overall.[6]
Uruguay (1st title)
Argentina
United States
Yugoslavia
Argentina • Squad
Bolivia • Squad
Brazil • Squad
Chile • Squad
Paraguay • Squad
Peru • Squad
Uruguay • Squad
Chile
France
Mexico
Brazil
Bolivia
Romania
Peru
Paraguay
Belgium
Argentina
United States
Yugoslavia