How does this World Cup compare with the first?

Football fiasco With 48 teams, this is the largest World Cup ever. How does it compare with the first? – The inaugural World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. It should have had 16 teams, in a format which endured until 1970. However, only 13 turned up. Siam (now Thailand) and Japan accepted invitations

Raccontata daspectator.com