FIFA gets its shape
The first FIFA Congress held two days later on 23 May 1904 elected Robert Guérin (FRA) as President. Victor E. Schneider (SUI) and Carl Anton Wilhelm Hirschmann (NED) were made Vice-Presidents. Louis Muhlinghaus (BEL) was appointed Secretary and Treasurer, with the assistance of Ludvig Sylow (DEN). These pioneers were faced with an immense task because FIFA only existed on paper so to speak. One had to give it shape, create Associations as true national representations and get hold of new members. In the first place, the English had to be convinced that their membership to this newly created organisation was indispensable.

FIFA only consisted of European Associations up until 1909. The first members from overseas joined in the following order: South Africa in 1909/1910, Argentina and Chile in 1912, USA in 1913. This was the start of FIFA's international activities. The long path towards full expansion had been sketched out.

Planning the first FIFA World Cup
The resonance at the Olympic Games intensified FlFA's wish for its own world championship. Following a remarkable proposal of the Executive Committee, the FIFA Congress in May 1928 decided to stage a world championship organised by FIFA. Now, the organising country had to be chosen. Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Hungary submitted their candidatures. Right from the start, Uruguay was the favourite for important reasons: The country of the twofold Olympic winner (in 1924 and 1928) was celebrating its 100th anniversary of independence in 1930 at great expense.

The first World Cup was opened at the Centenary Stadium in Montevideo on 18 July 1930. A new epoch had begun for world football.

Four years later, the "Father of the World-Cup" Jules Rimet saw his wish fulfilled, when the 3rd World Cup took place in France, his home country.

The FIFA World Cup should have taken place for the 4th time in 1942. However, the appointment of an organiser was renounced at the Congress in Paris in 1938. The 1942 World Cup never took place. One had to wait until 1 July 1946 for the next Congress. There was only one candidate for the next World Cup Brazil was chosen unanimously.