THE year 1930 was a most momentous one, following the sudden crash of the New York Stock Exchange which plunged the World into a deep financial crisis the previous year. It was in 1930 that the South of Italy was shaken by earthquake which buried about 1 500 Neopolitans. Also Mathama Gandhi was being imprisoned by the British for peacefully bringing India to a standstill. Besides the inaugural World Cup the other event of more worldly significance was the Grand Coronation of His Imperial Majesty (HIM), Emperor Haile Selassie, First. In Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, seventy Nations bowed before the King on November 2,  in the grandest coronation that lasted over a week and HIM being crowned King of Kings, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
In deep South on the Continent of South America, excitement and expectations abounded in Uruguay as the Nation celebrated 100 years of Independence while preparing to stage the first-ever football World Cup.
The eight-month timeframe the hosts had to build the Centenary Stadium was always touch-and-go and with heavy rains plans had to be adjusted for the 13-team tournament.
The tireless efforts by the organisers, led by FIFA boss Jules Rimet, in persuading the best of Europe to attend resulted in just four crossing the Atlantic by sea. Most of the top teams bluntly refused the invitation and the British were out of FIFA at the time. Two months before kick-off and no European side indicated any interest in participating.
In good faith Belgium, Romania, France boarded SS Conte Verde in Barcelona on June 22, while the Yugoslavian side travelled alone via MS Florida. On route, Conte Verde docked in at Rio de Janeiro and Santos to collect the Brazilian team before arriving in the capital Montevideo on July 4, to a rousing welcome by thousands of excited fans. Also on that voyage were the Goddess of Victory Trophy, FIFA head Don Rimet and Belgian Referee, John Lagenus.
The 13 teams assembled were divided into four groups from which the respective group winners advanced to the semi-finals. Group One consisted of Chile, France, Mexico and the seeded Argentina. Group Two was headed by Brazil along with Bolivia and Yugoslavia. For Group Three the seeded side were the hosts and the others were Peru and Romania. The USA led Group Four that also had Paraguay and Belgium. All the seeded teams, except Brazil who were denied by Yugoslavia, made it to the last four.
The Pocitos Stadium was the venue for the historic opening contest on July 13 when France humiliated Mexico 4-1 and the World Cup was in motion. It took just 19 minutes for France’s Lucient Laurent to inscribe his name into the record books with the competition’s maiden goal. The other stadium used before The Centenario was ready five days into the tournament was the Central Park.
Les Bleus next opponents, two days later, were the Argentines who won a hard-fought 1-0 game that almost ended in chaos. The game’s decisive strike came nine minutes from full time when Luisito Monti scored from a free-kick some twenty yards out.
Within three minutes Brazilian referee Almeida Reglo blew for the game whilst France had goal-scoring position for the equaliser with Marcel Langiller in possession of the ball. Immediately the pitch in Central Stadium was invaded by the celebrating Argentine supporters while the French players protested bitterly, insisting that six minutes remained.
Mounted Police and other security were brought into action to defuse the fusion of controversy. Eventually the referee after consulting with his linesmen agreed that he had erred and after some time was able to get the teams back onto the field to conclude the contest.
In their next game Argentina benefited from Manuel Ferreira’s decision to sit out due to a University exam. His replacement Guillermo ‘The Infiltrator’ Stabile netted the first Tournament hat-trick in assisting his team an easy 6-3 win over Mexico, inclusive of five penalties awarded by Bolivian Referee, Ulysses Saucedo. In their final game against Chile and just before the half a fight broke out between the opposing players after Monti had kicked the Chilean left back Torres.
The Police had to be called to restore order. Stabile was again on target, scoring two in the 3-1 victory that propelled the Argentines to the semis. Chile, however, had wins over Mexico 3-0 and France 1-0.
Brazil were upstaged 2-1 by Yugoslavia in Group Two action while both sides disposed of the other group member Bolivia by 4-0 margins and the Yugoslav advanced.
Finally on July 18 The Centenario was ready for play as the hosts prevailed 1-0 over Peru, thanks to a  late winner by Hector Castro, who lost part of an arm in a boyhood accident. Uruguay, next steam-rolled Romania 4-0 to walk into the last four.  Peru also lost to Romania in the other match by a 3-1 score-line before a mere 300 spectators, a game that still holds the record for the lowest attended World Cup finals game.
The US also did not concede a goal on their way to the semis, beating Belgium and Paraguay by 3-0. Paraguay got some consolation with a 1-0 win over the Belgians to complete the group matches.
Both results in the semis read 6-1 and yet again the arch rivals and neighbours were set to meet in another final. The USA did well for the first half to trail 1-0, but in the second period the Argentines went on a goal-spree, scoring the last three inside 9 minutes, Stabile and Peucelle getting a double each while there was one each for Monti and Scopelli.
In the first semifinal, eighty thousand cheering spectators turned out the day before for the hosts’ demolition of the Yugoslavs, not before the visitors shocked them into silence with a go-ahead goal by Seculic four minutes into the contest. By the half the home-side were 2-1 up and in the second half Cea completed his hat-trick. Anselmo had two and Iriarte the other to complete the scores.
There was great speculation and anticipation in Montivideo for the outcome of the Championship finale and in Buenos Aires the excitement was overwhelming. Thousands of fortunate supporters crossed the River Plate while even more were left behind. The tension leading up to the match was building up amid security concerns by the referee and his linesmen. Tight Police security was accorded the Argentine side day and night.
On match day the gates were opened at eight o’clock in the morning for the two pm kick-off and by noon the stadium was packed. Though it could hold 100 000 only 93 000 were allowed and the atmosphere was electric.
To add to the excitement there was heated debate as to which ball should be used. In the end it was agreed that the first half will be played with a ball manufactured in Argentina and the second with one from Uruguay.
The 1928 Olympics final paraded the said teams in Amsterdam when a replay gave the Uruguayans a close 2-1 triumph. The Argentines were determined to avenge the defeat, but fate dealt their destiny another losing effort as they were humbled 4-2 in the final that lived up to its exciting prediction and surprisingly was well tempered.
Dorado, Iriarte, Cea and Castro scored for the Champions and for the losers it was Peucelle and Stabile who ended as the tournament’s top scorer with 8 goals. Captain Jose Nasazzi distinguished himself by becoming the first to lift the symbol of World football supremacy – the World Cup.
The entire nation of Uruguay celebrated throughout the night with the blowing of car horns and waving of flags and the next day was declared a National holiday in respect of the achievement. The celebration continued for days. Over in Buenos Aires the disappointment and frustration was taken out on the Uruguay Consulate which was stoned, causing the Police to intervene and disperse the mob. The World Cup was well and truly launched.
Eighteen matches in three v
enues in one City was a remarkable start.