The great development of football in the early decades of the century, he united the most diverse countries, here and there around the globe. The new game invented by the British, was soon landed in the most diverse districts, meeting everywhere with great success. Only in 1930, however, the International Federation managed to organize the first world, which, in the intentions of the international leaders of the time, would give further impetus to the spread of sport pedatorio. Unfortunately, the controversy raised by the decision to entrust the organization of Uruguay, very faded the scope of the event, as the European teams, for one reason or another, almost all decided to abandon the event. England, which was not part of FIFA, not even taken into consideration the possibility to participate, while Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary, with banners of the famous Danube school declined the invitation because of the refusal by the company to pay salaries to players selected. Finally, Italy, recently won the International Cup, a prototype of the European championship, followed the example of the sisters decided to leave home a selection that would have great possibilities. The reason for the refusal was never clear, but many at the time thought that one reason was linked to fears of possible reprisals in the looting at that time the Italian clubs were doing against the South American football, all'escamotage with dual nationality.
Of course, in Uruguay, a country where football had an incredible development, although limited in practice only to the city of Montevideo, the waivers in question were not very easily digested, as indeed was demonstrated by the subsequent defection of the Celestial World Cup next .
To accept the invitation, were it only the second floor of the countries of the European football scene, such as Belgium, Romania, France and Yugoslavia. The first three selections, traveled to Uruguay on board the "Earl Green", with Jules Rimet, the FIFA delegates and others, but especially with the precious cup which would go to the winning team. Opera French goldsmith Lafleur, the trophy weighed about 1800 grams of solid gold fully chased and represented a winged victory with his arms holding up a cup. The Rimet Cup, as it was later renamed, would definitely go to the team that had won three editions, not necessarily consecutively. The Atlantic crossing, it was a real massacre for European players who, in order to keep in training, it allenarono on the decks on board, sending a large quantity of balloons into the sea. Again, though, were the absentees to be wrong: the World was about to begin and would soon be a huge financial success and sports. Very different reception was accorded to the World Cup by South American countries and the United States, as it was quite understandable. Not having to face a long journey, teams like Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, where soccer was already the most popular sport, had great chances to win the final, regardless of the participation of European teams stronger. The thirteen participating teams were divided into four groups, each having a top seed. As seedings were designated Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and the United States.