Jules Rimet, a French lawyer who became president of the Federation Internationale de Football Association in 1921, was the driving force behind the birth of the World Cup.

The idea to stage a World Cup coincided with the founding of FIFA in Paris in 1904 when the seven member countries were Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

But it was Rimet's powers of persuasion that provided the impetus for the idea to become reality.

Uruguay won the Olympic Games football tournaments in Europe in 1924 and 1928 and in May 1929 it was agreed that a World Cup competition would be staged the following year with Uruguay selected to be hosts.

By then FIFA's membership had swollen to 41 countries but only 13 countries eventually took part in the first World Cup.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were ineligible having withdrawn from FIFA in 1928 following a row over broken time payments to amateur players.

Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and USA were seeded and all but Brazil made it from the pool matches through to the semi-finals.

Yugoslavia finished with a 100 per cent record in Pool 2 after beating Brazil 2-1 and Bolivia 4-0 but were thrashed 6-1 by Uruguay in the semi-finals.

Argentina beat USA by the same scoreline in the other semi-final to ensure the final was a re-run of the 1928 Olympic final.

Uruguay trailed 2-1 at half-time but second-half goals from Pedro Cea, Santos Iriarte and Castro meant Uruguay were the first World Cup winners.

The first tournament had been a success and Uruguay, inspired by their outstanding right-half Jose Leandro Andrade, were worthy victors.