Why was the first football World Cup held in Uruguay?

KohakuThe first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. I wonder why that country was chosen.

The answer in 30 seconds

First, let me give you the answer in 30 seconds.

Uruguay had won the Olympic football tournament in both 1924 and 1928, and 1930 marked a 100-year milestone for the country. On those grounds it bid to host, FIFA accepted, and the first World Cup was held there in 1930.

The stands of the Estadio Centenario under a blue sky, with a tall slender tower rising beside them — The Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, where the 1930 final was played. The tower on the right marks the 100 years of the constitution.Photo: Uwebart / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

A world cup born from the Olympics

The World Cup began in 1930, and the story starts with Olympic football (soccer). In the final of the 1924 Paris Games, Uruguay beat Switzerland 3-0 to win gold. Encouraged by the success of that tournament, FIFA's then president, Jules Rimet, pressed ahead with plans for a world championship separate from the Olympics. On 26 May 1928 the FIFA Congress gave the plan the go-ahead, and just days later Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 at the Olympics to keep its gold medal.

Why Uruguay was chosen

Six countries bid to host: Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay. Uruguay pointed to its two Olympic titles in a row and to the fact that 1930 was a 100-year milestone for the country. According to FIFA, the argument was persuasive. FIFA describes the milestone as the centenary of independence, while the FIFA Museum calls it the centenary of the constitution. The host was chosen at the 1929 FIFA Congress.

A new stadium and a long journey

As the centrepiece of the celebrations, Uruguay built a new stadium, the Estadio Centenario, in the capital, Montevideo. It was finished on 10 July 1930. FIFA also told the European associations that Uruguay would provide each team's expenses, a generous offer. Even so, the long sea voyage meant that only 4 European teams came: Belgium, Romania, France and Yugoslavia. In all, 13 teams took part, and 7 of them were from South America.

Figure: The road to the first World Cup

KohakuThey even built a new stadium. They really meant it, didn't they?

A final between South American neighbours

The final was played at the Centenario, where Uruguay beat its neighbour across the River Plate, Argentina, 4-2 to become the first world champion. The two countries had met in the same Olympic final before, and now they stood on the big stage again.

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There was no official match ball for the final, so each team brought its own, and the referee decided to use a different ball in each half.
The Centenario's Torre de los Homenajes is a tower 100 m tall, and its 9 balconies stand for the 9 stripes of the Uruguayan flag.

KohakuIts Olympic success and a milestone year for the country came together, and the curtain rose on a world tournament.

Quick quiz: test yourself

Why could Uruguay host the first World Cup?

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FIFA was based there
It was the birthplace of football
Olympic double and a 100-year milestone

Olympic double and a 100-year milestone Uruguay had won Olympic football in 1924 and 1928, and 1930 was a 100-year milestone for the country.

Sources

This article was written after checking the sources above as of 2026-10-03. Explanations may change as research progresses. Photo credits are shown below each photo.