Only 12 teams traveled to Uruguay for the first World Cup ever held in 1930 . Zidane had emerged from international retirement to lead his country to the final , a fitting stage for the greatest player of his generation 's final game . Twenty years later , the tournament entered a new era when it was staged in Brazil . The 1970 event in Mexico featured live coverage via satellite television ##s . Uruguay go into the the 2010 tournament in South Africa as the defending champions .
Only 12 teams traveled to Uruguay for the first World Cup ever held in 1930 . Twenty years later , the tournament entered a new era when it was staged in Brazil . The 1970 event in Mexico featured live coverage via satellite television ##s . Uruguay go into the the 2010 tournament in South Africa as the defending champions .