First Men's World Cup Competition
The First Men's World Cup Competition, which took place on July 13, 1930, in Montevideo, Uruguay, marked a significant milestone in the history of international football, known as soccer in North America. The inaugural match featured Uruguay and Argentina, with Uruguay emerging victorious. This tournament began with 13 national teams, a stark contrast to the more than 200 teams that now participate in regional qualifiers, culminating in a final playoff featuring 32 teams. The World Cup has grown to become the most widely viewed sporting event globally, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers regardless of team allegiance. Organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which was established in 1904, the tournament is held every four years. While the competition faced interruptions during World War II, it resumed in 1950, famously drawing a record crowd of approximately 200,000 spectators for a match between Uruguay and Brazil. Brazil holds the record for the most championships, having won five times, with their latest victory occurring in 2002. The World Cup's legacy extends beyond men's competitions, as the first Women's World Cup took place in 1991, showcasing the growing diversity and global appeal of football.
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First Men's World Cup Competition
First Men's World Cup Competition
The first World Cup competition for the international championship of men's football—or soccer, as it is known in North America—was held on July 13, 1930, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The opponents were Uruguay and Argentina, and Uruguay won. Only 13 national teams competed in this first tournament, whereas today more than 200 participate in regional qualifying rounds and 32 go on to the final playoffs. Over the years the World Cup has become the most popular sporting event on earth, watched by hundreds of millions of people via satellite television every time it takes place, whether their own national teams are playing or not.
The World Cup playoffs are held every four years. The competition is administered by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), an organization founded in 1904 by representatives from seven European countries—Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The tournaments were suspended during World War II and the immediate postwar period, but games resumed in 1950, when approximately 200,000 people—the largest crowd ever to attend a football match—watched Uruguay defeat Brazil 2–1. As of the writing of this book, Brazil has won the Cup most often—five times, most recently in 2002.
In 1991 the first women's World Cup was held in China, with the United States gaining a victory over Norway in the final game.