Hosts: Uruguay
Winners: Uruguay
Competing teams: 13
Where were England? At home
Given that they were reigning Olympic champions and the football superpower of the day, it seemed only fair that Uruguay were awarded the honour of hosting the first World Cup. Although that did not stop most of Europe from boycotting the competition.
Of the 13 teams that took part, only four, France, Yugoslavia, Belgium and Romania, took on the three-week voyage to South America.
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland didn’t even have the chance to take part, having resigned from FIFA over an argument about the payment of amateur players.
France faced Mexico in the first ever game with the French romping a 4-1 victory, but it was the South Americans who dominated with Uruguay and Argentina both winning their semi-finals 6-1 to set up a final showdown in Montevideo.
In front of over 95,000 people, the home side scored first but found themselves 2-1 down at the break. However, three goals in the second half were enough to hand the hosts victory and the honour of lifting the first Jules Rimet Trophy.
Did you know: Romania were ordered to play in the tournament by King Carol, who also took it upon himself to pick his nation’s team.
