![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3JONOMMZRFEZBXMVFMRYQT5KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=93b482a3a8f031c2f8e6c27ab3cc687d86e5a75e76441bb65e033233b515b68c&width=400&height=225)
The official match ball of the 1930 FIFA World Cup,
T-model, 11 panel leather ball with laces. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7ETT3O622VHIHMATZUTW25XKT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9834ec8eb0a271b98e401ccf5bc6975987d290be91f84dae4b75441a4fbb9411&width=400&height=225)
The Uruguayan football team in 1930. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LT5JS4JEWRFU3NXQBL7AC2MYPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8116a060b1ebaceb613503d439233ce13d57b8efba49bf74d73fcf01ddbcb7df&width=400&height=225)
Jules Rimet, president of Fifa, presents the first World Cup trophy (the Jules Rimet Trophy) to Dr Paul Jude, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, after Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the first ever World Cup final in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X42DRLJU7BBRHK64Y6YODYLNBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=799801efaf4fab75fd65295b173608c7d92cb6c748e0f613c9de31c445c8c64f&width=400&height=225)
The Uruguayan football team who made history by being crowned the first Wolrd Cup winners. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q33KU44Q4ZCTHJQBYTDME2MSCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=49942645c3a5a23e3cc305456541a6d8b6030c93d942cdda0cf48fb2d5283e34&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay score a goal during their 4-2 win over South American rivals Argentina in the first World Cup final on July 30, 1930. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HUMSJDBZD5AUTKRBGFNPJSYSIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=059300e82d3ab32e181e6d576716536ef34214598fccbbd88ffa0777fa7cfea0&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay players Lorenzo Fernandez, Pedro Cea and Hector Scarone celebrate being champions of the world. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67B2FTWGBJDKNMYVOXEN5CNY54.jpg?smart=true&auth=29343d5d68d3344fcea5481df4d97064ed29fd7d6cbb842970f40a29539c1734&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay captain Jose Nazassi, left, shakes hands with his Argentinian counterpart 'Nolo' Fereyra before the final of the first World Cup competition in Montevideo, which Uruguay won . With them is referee John Langenus and linesmen Saucedo and Henry Christophe. Photo: Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSVL2RWRSJH4ZIQBS7AUTV4LJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1b551e6809571fb0d6b7ea66916f2ba087003a1ea4811d42c68f749b7d2d0f6&width=400&height=225)
French national soccer team players pose after lunch for a group picture during their cruise aboard the "Conte Verde" in July 1930 on their way to Uruguay to participate in the first World Cup. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5VJDJ6BQJCFNNASJ2NGOFQWIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=163993f2e910f11a1a3c917d03341f9770765c0ab4ff6c19592f663c7ff4f666&width=400&height=225)
Uruguayan keeper Enrique Ballestrero fails to save a shot from Argentina's Carlos Peucelle which levelled up the showpiece final at 2-2. Photo: Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2UWWXAIFJDTBLOSRQZF5Z6WQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=455351537db6bd03a8e15d27b77fd71abf0bdcb63d10638b8f8858c1f7211077&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Centenario Stadium, located in the Parque Batlle neighborhood, built to host the first inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup, including both semi-final matches and the final match. On July 18, 1983, it was declared by FIFA as the first Historical Monument of World Football. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3JONOMMZRFEZBXMVFMRYQT5KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=93b482a3a8f031c2f8e6c27ab3cc687d86e5a75e76441bb65e033233b515b68c&width=400&height=225)
The official match ball of the 1930 FIFA World Cup,
T-model, 11 panel leather ball with laces. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7ETT3O622VHIHMATZUTW25XKT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9834ec8eb0a271b98e401ccf5bc6975987d290be91f84dae4b75441a4fbb9411&width=400&height=225)
The Uruguayan football team in 1930. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LT5JS4JEWRFU3NXQBL7AC2MYPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8116a060b1ebaceb613503d439233ce13d57b8efba49bf74d73fcf01ddbcb7df&width=400&height=225)
Jules Rimet, president of Fifa, presents the first World Cup trophy (the Jules Rimet Trophy) to Dr Paul Jude, the president of the Uruguayan Football Association, after Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the first ever World Cup final in Montevideo, Uruguay. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X42DRLJU7BBRHK64Y6YODYLNBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=799801efaf4fab75fd65295b173608c7d92cb6c748e0f613c9de31c445c8c64f&width=400&height=225)
The Uruguayan football team who made history by being crowned the first Wolrd Cup winners. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q33KU44Q4ZCTHJQBYTDME2MSCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=49942645c3a5a23e3cc305456541a6d8b6030c93d942cdda0cf48fb2d5283e34&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay score a goal during their 4-2 win over South American rivals Argentina in the first World Cup final on July 30, 1930. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HUMSJDBZD5AUTKRBGFNPJSYSIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=059300e82d3ab32e181e6d576716536ef34214598fccbbd88ffa0777fa7cfea0&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay players Lorenzo Fernandez, Pedro Cea and Hector Scarone celebrate being champions of the world. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67B2FTWGBJDKNMYVOXEN5CNY54.jpg?smart=true&auth=29343d5d68d3344fcea5481df4d97064ed29fd7d6cbb842970f40a29539c1734&width=400&height=225)
Uruguay captain Jose Nazassi, left, shakes hands with his Argentinian counterpart 'Nolo' Fereyra before the final of the first World Cup competition in Montevideo, which Uruguay won . With them is referee John Langenus and linesmen Saucedo and Henry Christophe. Photo: Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JSVL2RWRSJH4ZIQBS7AUTV4LJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b1b551e6809571fb0d6b7ea66916f2ba087003a1ea4811d42c68f749b7d2d0f6&width=400&height=225)
French national soccer team players pose after lunch for a group picture during their cruise aboard the "Conte Verde" in July 1930 on their way to Uruguay to participate in the first World Cup. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5VJDJ6BQJCFNNASJ2NGOFQWIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=163993f2e910f11a1a3c917d03341f9770765c0ab4ff6c19592f663c7ff4f666&width=400&height=225)
Uruguayan keeper Enrique Ballestrero fails to save a shot from Argentina's Carlos Peucelle which levelled up the showpiece final at 2-2. Photo: Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R2UWWXAIFJDTBLOSRQZF5Z6WQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=455351537db6bd03a8e15d27b77fd71abf0bdcb63d10638b8f8858c1f7211077&width=400&height=225)
An aerial view of the Centenario Stadium, located in the Parque Batlle neighborhood, built to host the first inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup, including both semi-final matches and the final match. On July 18, 1983, it was declared by FIFA as the first Historical Monument of World Football. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3JONOMMZRFEZBXMVFMRYQT5KI.jpg?smart=true&auth=93b482a3a8f031c2f8e6c27ab3cc687d86e5a75e76441bb65e033233b515b68c&width=400&height=225)
The official match ball of the 1930 FIFA World Cup,
T-model, 11 panel leather ball with laces. Getty Images
'Dead' player gatecrashing own wake capped off the first and weirdest World Cup
Hosts Uruguay triumphed at inaugural tournament in 1930 amid riots, driving snow and teams literally missing the boat to take part
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
02 December, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic