In football, which country won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?
VerifiedAnswer: Uruguay
Explanation:
Uruguay made history by becoming the first-ever FIFA World Cup champions in 1930. This inaugural tournament took place in Uruguay itself, making them both the host nation and the winners of this prestigious competition.
The tournament was held from July 13 to July 30, 1930, and featured 13 teams from around the world. Uruguay was chosen as the host country for several reasons: they were celebrating their 100th anniversary of independence, they had won the Olympic football tournaments in 1924 and 1928, and they offered to pay all participating teams' expenses and build a new stadium for the event.
The final match was played on July 30, 1930, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city. Uruguay faced Argentina in what turned out to be an exciting and memorable finale. The match had a dramatic storyline - Argentina took the lead in the first half with goals from Pablo Dorado and Peucelle, making the score 2-1 at halftime in favor of Argentina.
However, the second half belonged to Uruguay. The home team showed incredible determination and fighting spirit, scoring three goals to turn the match around completely. Pedro Cea equalized for Uruguay, followed by goals from Santos Iriarte and Héctor Castro, securing a 4-2 victory for the host nation. The crowd of 68,346 spectators witnessed this historic moment as Uruguay lifted the first-ever FIFA World Cup trophy.
This victory was particularly special because Uruguay was already considered a football powerhouse at that time. They had dominated Olympic football and were known for their skilled players and tactical approach to the game. Their success in 1930 established them as one of the early giants of international football.
The 1930 World Cup was smaller than modern tournaments, with only 13 teams participating compared to today's 32 teams. Many European teams declined to participate due to the long journey to South America and the time it would take. Despite this, the tournament was considered a great success and laid the foundation for what would become the world's most prestigious football competition.
