Italy is a footballing powerhouse and has hosted the FIFA World Cup twice—once in 1934 and again in 1990. The 1934 tournament, just four years after the inaugural event, was particularly notable as it marked the first World Cup to feature a qualification process. Italy won the 1934 title as the host nation, adding to its rich football heritage. However, it did not host the first-ever FIFA World Cup. That historic event took place in South America in 1930. Italy’s role in shaping the tournament’s early years is important, but they weren’t the trailblazers in terms of hosting. The country that held that distinction was Uruguay.