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FIFA World Cup 1930 (champions - Uruguay)

The first World Cup, played entirely in Montevideo, ended with hosts Uruguay coming from 2-1 down at half-time to beat Argentina 4-2 at the Estadio Centenario - a final played with a different ball in each half by order of referee Jean Langenus because the teams could not agree, in the year of Uruguay's independence centenary.

Why this wins its question: The founding final with its two-balls anecdote bound to FIFA's own account rather than folklore retellings.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. Hosts Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, trailing 2-1 at half-time before goals from Pablo Dorado, Jose Pedro Cea, Victoriano Santos Iriarte and Hector Castro completed the win; all matches of the tournament were played in Montevideo.

    confidence 0.93Uruguay conquer in battle of the balls - 1930 (FIFA) · primary

  2. In the absence of an official match ball both sides turned up with their own, and Belgian referee Jean Langenus ordered each half played with a different ball; Uruguay were celebrating the centenary of their independence that year, and Argentina's goals came from Carlos Peucelle and Guillermo Stabile.

    confidence 0.94Uruguay conquer in battle of the balls - 1930 (FIFA) · primary