1930 FIFA World Cup

Notes

The inaugural FIFA World Cup, held entirely in Montevideo at three venues (Estadio Centenario, Parque Central, Pocitos). Lucien Laurent (France) scored the first goal in World Cup history; Bert Patenaude (USA) scored the first hat-trick (recognised by FIFA in 2006). No third-place playoff was played — FIFA's retrospective ranking places USA 3rd, Yugoslavia 4th. Squad-level goals total 69; remaining 1 goal is Manuel Rosas's own goal credited to Chile.

Top scorers

1. 1.Guillermo StábileArgentina· Forwards8
2. 2.Pedro CeaUruguay· Forwards5
3. 3.Bert PatenaudeUnited States· Forwards4
4. 4.Peregrino AnselmoUruguay· Forwards3
5. 5.Carlos PeucelleArgentina· Forwards3
6. 6.Ivan BekYugoslavia· Forwards3
7. 7.PreguinhoBrazil· Forwards3
8. 8.Héctor CastroUruguay· Forwards2
9. 9.Pablo DoradoUruguay· Forwards2
10. 10.Santos IriarteUruguay· Forwards2

Uruguay's road to the title

1. sfvs Yugoslavia6-1
2. finalvs Argentina4-2

Confederation breakdown

• UEFA4
• CONMEBOL7
• Concacaf2
• CAF0
• AFC0
• OFC0

📚 Trivia (8)

• firstsLucien Laurent of France scored the first goal in FIFA World Cup history — vs Mexico, 13 July 1930, in the 19th minute.
• firstsBert Patenaude (USA) scored the first hat-trick in World Cup history vs Paraguay on 17 July 1930. FIFA only officially recognised it in 2006 — for decades the credit went to Argentina's Guillermo Stábile.
• firstsPlácido Galindo of Peru was the first player ever sent off at a World Cup — vs Romania, 14 July 1930, in the 56th minute. (Red and yellow cards as physical objects didn't appear until 1970; in 1930 dismissals were verbal.)
• format1930 had no third-place playoff. FIFA later ranked the United States 3rd and Yugoslavia 4th retroactively, splitting them on goal difference (USA +1, Yugoslavia 0).
• format1930 had 13 teams — Group 1 had four (Argentina, Chile, France, Mexico), the other three groups had three each. Group winners advanced directly to the semi-finals.
• championsBy winning the inaugural World Cup, Uruguay completed a treble: 1924 Olympic gold, 1928 Olympic gold, and 1930 World Cup gold — all within six years.
• contextOnly four European nations (France, Belgium, Romania, Yugoslavia) made the long sea voyage to Uruguay for the inaugural World Cup. Several major European football powers — England, Italy, Germany, Spain — declined to send teams.
• awardsArgentina's Guillermo Stábile won the inaugural Golden Boot with 8 goals despite Argentina losing the final 4-2 to Uruguay.