Who won the first FIFA World Cup?
Quick answer
Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, which it also hosted. In the final on July 30, 1930, in Montevideo, Uruguay beat neighbor Argentina 4–2 in front of about 68,000 fans.
Key facts
- Year
- 1930
- Host
- Uruguay
- Champion
- Uruguay
- Final
- Uruguay 4–2 Argentina, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
Football was already hugely popular in South America, and the first tournament was a proud moment for the small nation of about two million people. Uruguay won the World Cup again in 1950 in Brazil, beating the hosts in a famous upset known as the Maracanazo.
Why Uruguay hosted
Uruguay was the reigning Olympic football champion (1924 and 1928) and was celebrating 100 years of independence in 1930. It offered to pay teams’ travel costs and built a new stadium, the Estadio Centenario, named for the centenary.
A small tournament
- Only 13 teams took part, all invited rather than qualifying.
- Just four European teams made the long sea voyage: France, Belgium, Romania and Yugoslavia.
- The first World Cup goal was scored by France’s Lucien Laurent.
- The two balls: Argentina and Uruguay each wanted to use their own ball in the final, so they used Argentina’s in the first half and Uruguay’s in the second.
World Cup winners by country
| Country | Titles |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 |
| Germany | 4 |
| Italy | 4 |
| Argentina | 3 (including 2022) |
| France | 2 |
| Uruguay | 2 (1930, 1950) |
| England | 1 |
| Spain | 1 |
The 2026 World Cup
The 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico was the first with 48 teams. For the latest top individual honor in football, see who won the Ballon d’Or.
A football term you’ll hear at every World Cup: what a hat-trick is.
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