The third star: a sentimental favourite
Due to the growth of the sport and the number of professional footballers, FIFA decreed it would organize its own World Cup in 1928.
Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden applied to host the first in 1930, but it was Uruguay that was chosen as the inaugural host.
Sparing no expense, the local federation offered to cover the costs for the participating teams, since it was an opportunity for Uruguay to celebrate the centenary of its sovereignty – hence the name of Montevideo’s main stadium, the Estadio Centenario (‘Centenary Stadium’), whose main stands recall Olympic glories.
They raced against time to organise the 1930 World Cup, which featured 13 teams: nine from the Americas (Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, and the United States) and four from Europe (France, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Belgium).
The final, played on 30 July, was between hosts Uruguay and neighbouring rivals Argentina, who met in a “Platense” derby game. Such was the rivalry that the teams could not agree on what ball to use, so a different ball was used in each half – one from each team.
In the first half, a ball manufactured in Buenos Aires was chosen. In the second, a local one manufactured by the hosts. While the Argentinians led 2-1 at half-time, the Uruguayans flipped the script in the second half and won 4-2, adding a glorious third star to their crest.
