Almost as soon as they had voted against the idea of a World Cup, Sweden applied to stage it. Quick learners indeed. Italy applied too, along with Spain and Holland, only for all four to step aside once all the credentials were on the table. Uruguay were clearly the big players.
In some reports it comes across as a surprising decision, as if the game's showpiece had been offered to a Third World shanty town. In fact Montevideo was a thriving city and port, still surviving the effects of the Wall Street Crash. The year 1930 was the centenary of Uruguayan independence, and the country's exchequer was buoyant enough to build a grand new stadium and to guarantee the expenses of every country that took part.
The last was surely the clincher as far as FIFA were concerned but seems to have cut little ice with most of Europe. Regular jet travel was still in the future, so the financial guarantees persuaded only four countries to make the ocean voyage. With just thirteen now taking part, the knockout system had to be replaced by four groups. The real contenders stayed at home: Hungary and Austria, Italy and Germany, Spain -- while England and Scotland, as strong as anyone, were not even eligible having resigned from FIFA over the question of broken time payments in 1928.
All of which did not really matter very much. Even against Europe's finest, Uruguay would have been expected to win.
In 1924 they had played outside South America for the first time, winning the Olympic title in Paris. After thrashing Yugoslavia 7-0 and the hosts 5-1, they outplayed the Swiss 3-0 in the final, their stern defence buttressing some dazzling interpassing up front. Four years later they won it again.
It was not just that they happened to have a strong pool of players. What really separated the leading South American countries from European opposition was a familiarity with tournaments arranged along World Cup lines: several matches played in the space of a month or so. Both continents took part in the Olympics every four years -- but Uruguay and the rest were also involved in the Copa America, already staged twelve times since 1910 (fifty years before the European Championship). Ideas on physical preparation and training camps were in advance of anything in most of Europe at the time.
So the hosts were firm favourites, with the only real opposition likely to come from Argentina, who'd taken them to a replay in the Olympic final two years earlier and beaten them 2-0 to win the Copa America in between. The other South American teams were makeweights, Mexico barely that, the United States an unknown quantity. On the field of play the quality of football produced was of the highest standard although the four European entries weren't particularly good. But at least they were there and one or two were about to play more than just a bit part in
history.
France beat Mexico 4-1 and went down narrowly to Argentina 1-0 in an epic struggle. The referee, who had blown the final whistle six minutes early, finally - after fierce protests - recalled the players to the field, some of whom were already in the shower.
With no qualifying matches necessary, France-Mexico and USA-Belgium, kicked off at the same time, were the first ever World Cup matches and Lucien Laurent of France scored the first ever goal 19 minutes after the greatest show on earth had kicked off.
A few days later in the colossal Centenario stadium (100,000 capacity), the atmosphere was electric as spectators were awaiting the South American final between Uruguay and Argentina, both crossing the semifinal barriers with flying colours with identical 6-1 wins over Yugoslavia and USA respectively.
At half-time, Uruguay were down 21, but fought back bravely and put three second half goals passed the stunned Argentinians, ending the game with a 42 victory.
If FIFA needed any assurance about the decision to bring the tournament to Uruguay, they got it just before the final. Argentine player Luis Monti received a death threat.
It proved the match mattered. Had it been held in Europe, how many spectators would have been locked out as they were here? Would they have been searched for weapons on the way in? How many European stadia needed a surrounding moat? The ground capacity was reduced for safety reasons. Additional factors built tension: local derby, impending military dictatorship against Uruguayan coalition. Belgian referee John Langenus demanded guarantees of protection and planned a quick escape route to his ship. He later admitted to feeling genuine fear.
On the day of the final, he was put under extra pressure, both camps wanting to use a ball manufactured in their own country. Langenus ordered each half to be played with a different ball. Dressed in his usual cap and plus fours, he went out to play the part of gamekeeper.
Naturally the day of the final was declared a national holiday. Someone died in the celebrations, a mob stoned the Uruguayan embassy in Buenos Aires, and the two FAs broke off relations. It really did matter. Even the Europeans were about to believe it.