This stunning “tiento” model soccer ball was used during the match between the United States and Belgium at the 1930 World Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay. With the main stadium of the World Cup, Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, still under construction, the United States and Belgium match was played at the home of Club Nacional, the Estadio Gran Parque Central. This match, played under the auspices of Argentinian referee Jose Macias, finished 3-0 in favor of the Yankees. Goals came from Bart McGhee, Tom Florie, and Bert Patenaude, who would go on to record the first hat trick in World Cup history in the United States’ game against Paraguay later in the week. The USA would go on to escape the group stages and reach the semifinal round, where the United States fell to the eventual second-place team Argentina.

This historic soccer ball is made of brown leather panels sewn together. The ball is laced together with brown leather laces. This ball is one of two styles of soccer ball used during the 1930 World Cup. The second type, the Uruguayan “T-model”, was used during the second half of the final match between Uruguay and Argentina to settle a dispute between soccer governing associations of the two nations. This ball shows expected wear and usage and is in very good condition. This item comes with a LOA confirming it is part of the Rony Almeida Soccer Collection.

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