ChronoFive
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Setting the scene
Olympic football had grown popular, but FIFA wanted its own global championship and chose Uruguay to host, partly because the nation was celebrating a century of independence and could fund a new stadium.
What happened
The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, with thirteen teams competing; the hosts beat Argentina 4-2 in the final at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
Why it still matters
Uruguay's victory on home soil launched the quadrennial tournament that would become the planet's most watched sporting event, long before television beamed matches worldwide. Memorable detail: several European teams refused the long Atlantic voyage, so the field was heavily South American.
Background
The hosts won the final before modern television audiences existed.