# John Langenus

> Belgian football referee (1891-1952)

**Wikidata**: [Q461172](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q461172)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Langenus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-langenus

## Summary
John Langenus was a Belgian football referee who officiated from 1910 until his death in 1952. He is best known for refereeing the first FIFA World Cup final in 1930 between Uruguay and Argentina.

## Biography
- Born: December 8, 1891
- Nationality: Belgian
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Refereeing the first FIFA World Cup final in 1930
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Association football refereeing

## Contributions
John Langenus's most significant contribution to football was serving as the referee for the inaugural FIFA World Cup final match on July 30, 1930, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. This historic match saw Uruguay defeat Argentina 4-2 in front of approximately 93,000 spectators. As the referee for this landmark game, Langenus played a crucial role in establishing the standards and practices for international football officiating at the highest level.

## FAQs
What was John Langenus's most famous match?
John Langenus is most famous for refereeing the first FIFA World Cup final on July 30, 1930, between Uruguay and Argentina at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

How long did John Langenus referee football matches?
John Langenus began his refereeing career in 1910 and continued until his death in 1952, spanning over four decades of service to the sport.

What was John Langenus's nationality?
John Langenus was Belgian, born in Belgium on December 8, 1891.

## Why They Matter
John Langenus matters in football history as the man who officiated the very first FIFA World Cup final, establishing precedents for international tournament refereeing that continue to influence the sport today. His role in this historic match helped legitimize football as a global sport and set standards for future World Cup tournaments. As one of the earliest international referees, Langenus helped shape the development of professional refereeing standards and practices that would become fundamental to the modern game.

## Notable For
- Refereeing the first FIFA World Cup final in 1930
- Serving as a football referee for over four decades (1910-1952)
- Being one of the pioneering international football referees
- Establishing early standards for World Cup tournament officiating

## Body
### Early Life and Career Beginnings
John Langenus was born on December 8, 1891, in Belgium during a period when football was rapidly growing in popularity across Europe. The exact location of his birth within Belgium is not specified in the available source material. He began his career as a football referee in 1910, at the age of 19, during a time when organized football was still developing its professional structures and officiating standards.

### Refereeing Career
Langenus's refereeing career spanned more than four decades, from 1910 until his death in 1952. During this extensive period, he would have witnessed and contributed to the evolution of football from a relatively informal sport to a highly organized international competition. His long career suggests he was respected within the football community and maintained the physical and mental fitness required for top-level officiating well into middle age.

### The 1930 World Cup Final
The pinnacle of Langenus's career came on July 30, 1930, when he was selected to referee the first FIFA World Cup final at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. This match between Uruguay and Argentina was not only the first World Cup final but also a highly charged encounter between two neighboring South American rivals. The game ended with Uruguay defeating Argentina 4-2 in front of approximately 93,000 spectators, establishing Uruguay as the first World Cup champions in history.

### Legacy and Historical Significance
As the referee of the first World Cup final, John Langenus occupies a unique place in football history. His performance in this match helped establish the credibility and legitimacy of the newly created FIFA World Cup tournament. The standards and practices he helped establish during this historic match would influence the development of international football officiating for generations to come. His selection for such a prestigious match demonstrates the high regard in which he was held by football authorities of his era.

### Later Career and Death
After the 1930 World Cup, Langenus continued his refereeing career for another 22 years until his death on October 1, 1952, at the age of 60. The source material does not specify whether he continued to officiate at the highest levels throughout this period or whether he transitioned to other roles within football administration or journalism, though his occupation is listed as including journalism among other roles.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013