A Brief History of "Uruguay 30"

The world cup "Uruguay 30" was the first everreferee ending the match 6 minutes early and just as
organized with only 13 teams participating in aFrance had a man in a clear position to score a goal.
tournament which was by invitation. This in contrast toAs for the game, it would be restarted. France for its
today's world cups which are by qualification. As forpart had been forced to play two games in a period
the 13 teams which participated, two were from Northof 48 hours.
America (USA and Mexico), seven were from South3. Argentina 6 Mexico 3 (First Round)
America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, ChileThis game was the first one to feature a penalty as
and Paraguay) while only four were from Europe;well as being the highest scoring match of the
given the fact that costs of traveling in those daystournament. Argentina's Stabile also became the first
were very costly.South American player to score three goals in a final
Uruguay was chosen as the host for the first worldthough not the first to do so, as was originally thought.
cup given that they were the defending Olympic4. USA 3 Paraguay 0 (First Round)
champions at time. As for the tournament itself it wasIn this game the USA's Patenaude became the first
held exclusively in Montevideo and in three stadiumsplayer to score three goals in a world cup match while
though most of the games were played in thethe USA became the first and so far only team from
"Centenario". This stadium being constructed speciallyNorth America to qualify as far as the semifinal.
for this world cup and named "Centario" (meaning one4. Romania 3 Peru 1 (First Round)
hundred years) in honor of Uruguay's 100 years ofIn this game Peru's Galindo became the first player
independence.ever sent off the field while the crowd in attendance is
The world cup in Uruguay was organized by puttingsaid to have been the smallest ever at a world cup
the 13 teams in to four groups with the winners ofmatch. It officially being 2,459 though the generally
each group going in to the semifinals and eventually inaccepted figure is said to have been 300.
to the final and unlike today there was no match5. Argentina 6 USA 1 (Semifinal)
played for third place. Of course due to the oddThis was the first ever semifinal encounter. The United
number of teams one group had four countries whileStates for its part was declared as having come in
the other three had only three.third in this world cup though the reasons were never
Italy was among one of the countries that did notmade clear as to why; given that a match for third
participate in this world cup despite having a strongplace was not played.
team at the time which left Uruguay and Argentina, as6. Uruguay 4 Argentina 2 (Final)
the ones who would be most likely to win theThis was the first ever final with Dorado for Uruguay
tournament which started it all with moments such asscoring the first goal. As for a curious note regarding
these.this first final. The first half was played with a ball from
1. France 4 Mexico 1 (First Round)Argentina which ended 2-1 in favor of Argentina while
In this game France's L. Laurent scored the first everthe second half was played with a Uruguayan ball
goal in world cup history yet France was not really thewhich ended in a 4-2 victory for Uruguay.
first team to win a game, given that that at the sameThe first world cup was held in the winter which led to
time the USA was playing Belgium in a match whichsome of the games being played in the snow yet
was won by the team from North America by 3-0.despite these factors; it can honestly be said that
2. Argentina 1 France (First Round)Argentina and Uruguay were the best teams in not
In this game France's goalkeeper was the first toonly this world cup but of the time. As would be
leave a match injured (20 minutes in to the game) yetproven in this first tournament. It being Uruguay to claim
given the rules of the day France could not enter athe title while Argentina's Stabile was top goal scorer
substitute player in his place. This meaning Francewith eight goals to his credit. In conclusion one can say
found itself in a difficult situation which was made morethough the first world cup lacked in organization and
so when Argentina's Monti injured Laurent, who stayedother aspects, it was the first world cup ever to be
on the field but did little other than limp through out theplayed as well as being the one that started it all so
match. This game will also be remembered for themany years ago.