The first World Cup final, played in Montevideo on July 30, 1930, couldn’t even agree on a ball. Uruguay and Argentina each insisted on using their own, so FIFA split the difference: Argentina’s ball for the first half, Uruguay’s for the second. Argentina led at halftime. Uruguay won the second half. Draw your own conclusions.
That wasn’t even the strangest part of the day. Thousands of Argentine supporters had made the trip by boat from Buenos Aires, many of them reportedly chanting “victory or death” as they crossed La Plata Basin, and fans of both sides were searched for weapons on the way in. The referee, a Belgian named John Langenus, agreed to officiate only after requesting a boat be ready at the harbour within one hour of the final whistle, in case he needed to make a quick escape. He also wore a shirt, tie, and plus-fours for the occasion, because it was 1930 and apparently that’s what you did.
Uruguay won 4-2. The following day was declared a national holiday. The referee made it to his boat. The World Cup, somehow, survived its own beginning. Have a good weekend.
