The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the 16th FIFA World Cup, the football world championship for men's national teams. The finals tournament was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. The country was chosen as the host nation by FIFA for the second time in the history of the tournament, defeating Morocco in the bidding process. It was the second time that France staged the competition (the first was in 1938) and the ninth time that it was held in Europe. Spanning 32 days, it is the longest World Cup tournament ever held.
Qualification for the finals began in March 1996 and concluded in November 1997. For the first time in the competition, the group stage was expanded from 24 teams to 32, with eight groups of four. 64 matches were played in 10 stadiums in 10 host cities, with the opening match and final staged at the newly built Stade de France in the Parisian commune of Saint-Denis.
The tournament was won by host country France, who beat defending champions Brazil 3–0 in the final. France won their first title, becoming the seventh nation to win a World Cup, and the sixth (after Uruguay, Italy, England, West Germany and Argentina) and as of 2022 the most recent to win the tournament on home soil. Croatia, Jamaica, Japan and South Africa made their first appearances in the finals.
Venues[]
| Stadiums | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Stade de France | Paris (Saint-Denis) | 80,000 |
| Stade Vélodrome | Marseille | 60,000 |
| Parc des Princes | Paris | 48,875 |
| Stade de Gerland | Lyon | 44,000 |
| Stade Félix-Bollaert | Lens | 41,300 |
| Stade de la Beaujoire | Nantes | 39,500 |
| Stadium de Toulouse | Toulouse | 37,000 |
| Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | Saint-Étienne | 36,000 |
| Parc Lescure | Bordeaux | 35,200 |
| Stade de la Mosson | Montpellier | 34,000 |
Participating teams[]
| Region (confederation) | Team | FIFA ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Asia (AFC) | Iran | 42 |
| Japan | 12 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 34 | |
| South Korea | 20 | |
| Africa (CAF) | Cameroon | 49 |
| Morocco | 13 | |
| Nigeria | 74 | |
| South Africa | 24 | |
| Tunisia | 21 | |
| Oceania (OFC) | None qualified | |
| North America, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) | Jamaica | 30 |
| Mexico | 4 | |
| United States | 11 | |
| South America (CONMEBOL) | Argentina | 6 |
| Brazil | 1 | |
| Chile | 9 | |
| Colombia | 10 | |
| Paraguay | 29 | |
| Europe (UEFA) | Austria | 31 |
| Belgium | 36 | |
| Bulgaria | 35 | |
| Croatia | 19 | |
| Denmark | 27 | |
| England | 5 | |
| France (host country) | 18 | |
| Germany | 2 | |
| Italy | 14 | |
| Netherlands | 25 | |
| Norway | 7 | |
| Romania | 22 | |
| Scotland | 41 | |
| Spain | 15 | |
| FR Yugoslavia | 8 | |
List of games[]
Group stage[]
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | ||||
| 10 June 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Brazil | 2–1 | Scotland |
| Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Morocco | 2–2 (draw) |
Norway | |
| 16 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | Scotland | 1–1 (draw) |
Norway |
| Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | Brazil | 3–0 | Morocco | |
| 23 June 1998 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | Morocco | 3–0 | Scotland |
| Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | Norway | 2–1 | Brazil | |
| Group B | ||||
| 11 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | Italy | 2–2 (draw) |
Chile |
| Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | Cameroon | 1–1 (draw) |
Austria | |
| 17 June 1998 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | Chile | 1–1 (draw) |
Austria |
| Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Italy | 3–0 | Cameroon | |
| 23 June 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Italy | 2–1 | Austria |
| Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | Chile | 1–1 (draw) |
Cameroon | |
| Group C | ||||
| 12 June 1998 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | Denmark | 1–0 | Saudi Arabia |
| Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | France | 3–0 | South Africa | |
| 18 June 1998 | Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | South Africa | 1–1 (draw) |
Denmark |
| Stade de France, Saint-Denis | France | 4–0 | Saudi Arabia | |
| 24 June 1998 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | France | 2–1 | Denmark |
| Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | South Africa | 2–2 (draw) |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Group D | ||||
| 12 June 1998 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Paraguay | 0–0 (draw) |
Bulgaria |
| 13 June 1998 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | Nigeria | 3–2 | Spain |
| 19 June 1998 | Parc des Princes, Paris | Nigeria | 1–0 | Bulgaria |
| Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | Spain | 0–0 (draw) |
Paraguay | |
| 24 June 1998 | Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | Paraguay | 3–1 | Nigeria |
| Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | Spain | 6–1 | Bulgaria | |
| Group E | ||||
| 13 June 1998 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | Mexico | 3–1 | South Korea |
| Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Netherlands | 0–0 (draw) |
Belgium | |
| 20 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | Belgium | 2–2 (draw) |
Mexico |
| Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | Netherlands | 5–0 | South Korea | |
| 25 June 1998 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | Netherlands | 2–2 (draw) |
Mexico |
| Parc des Princes, Paris | Belgium | 1–1 (draw) |
South Korea | |
| Group F | ||||
| 14 June 1998 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | FR Yugoslavia | 1–0 | Iran |
| 15 June 1998 | Parc des Princes, Paris | Germany | 2–0 | United States |
| 21 June 1998 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | Germany | 2–2 (draw) |
FR Yugoslavia |
| Stade de Gerland, Lyon | Iran | 2–1 | United States | |
| 25 June 1998 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Germany | 2–0 | Iran |
| Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | FR Yugoslavia | 1–0 | United States | |
| Group G | ||||
| 15 June 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | England | 2–0 | Tunisia |
| Stade de Gerland, Lyon | Romania | 1–0 | Colombia | |
| 22 June 1998 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Colombia | 1–0 | Tunisia |
| Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | Romania | 2–1 | England | |
| 26 June 1998 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | England | 2–0 | Colombia |
| Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Romania | 1–1 (draw) |
Tunisia | |
| Group H | ||||
| 14 June 1998 | Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | Argentina | 1–0 | Japan |
| Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | Croatia | 3–1 | Jamaica | |
| 20 June 1998 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | Croatia | 1–0 | Japan |
| 21 June 1998 | Parc des Princes, Paris | Argentina | 5–0 | Jamaica |
| 26 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | Argentina | 1–0 | Croatia |
| Stade de Gerland, Lyon | Jamaica | 2–1 | Japan | |
Knockout stage[]
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 | ||||
| 27 June 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | Italy | 1–0 | Norway |
| Parc des Princes, Paris | Brazil | 4–1 | Chile | |
| 28 June 1998 | Stade Félix-Bollaert, Lens | France | 1–0 (a.e.t.) |
Paraguay |
| Stade de France, Saint-Denis | Denmark | 4–1 | Nigeria | |
| 29 June 1998 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | Germany | 2–1 | Mexico |
| Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse | Netherlands | 2–1 | FR Yugoslavia | |
| 30 June 1998 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | Croatia | 1–0 | Romania |
| Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne | Argentina | 2–2 (a.e.t.) 4–3 (penalties) |
England | |
| Quarter-finals | ||||
| 3 July 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | France | 0–0 (a.e.t.) 4–3 (penalties) |
Italy |
| Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes | Brazil | 1–0 | Denmark | |
| 4 July 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | Netherlands | 2–1 | Argentina |
| Stade de Gerland, Lyon | Croatia | 3–0 | Germany | |
| Semi-finals | ||||
| 7 July 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | Brazil | 1–1 (a.e.t.) 4–2 (penalties) |
Netherlands |
| 8 July 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | France | 2–1 | Croatia |
| Third place play-off | ||||
| 11 July 1998 | Parc des Princes, Paris | Croatia | 2–1 | Netherlands |
| Final | ||||
| 12 July 1998 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis | France | 3–0 | Brazil |
Broadcasters[]
| Country/Territory | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Arab League | ASBU, Orbit ESPN |
| Latin America | Bein TV (channels 530 and 532), DirecTV (channels 610 and 612) |
| Albania | TVSH |
| Argentina | Canal 13, Telefe, América TV, Channel 30, Argenvisión, Channel 23, El CW |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF eins, ORF 2 |
| Belgium | TV1, Canvas, RTBF La Une, RTBF La Deux |
| Bolivia | TVB, Bolivisión, Unitel, Unovisión |
| Brazil | Rede Globo, SBT, Rede Record, SporTV, ESPN Brasil |
| Brunei Singapore |
TV3 |
| Bulgaria | Channel 1, Efir 2 |
| Cambodia | TVK |
| Canada | CBC Television, Télévision de Radio-Canada |
| Chile | TVN, Chilevisión, UCTV, Megavisión |
| China | CCTV-1 |
| Colombia | Canal Uno (PUNCH/JES), Canal A (RTI/Datos y Mensajes), Caracol Televisión, RCN Televisión |
| Czech Republic | ČT1, ČT2 |
| Denmark | DR1, DR2 |
| Estonia | ETV |
| Finland | YLE TV2, MTV3 |
| France | TF1, France 2 (1998 FIFA World Cup TV2), France 3 (1998 FIFA World Cup TV3), Festival (1998 FIFA World Cup TV4), TV5Monde (1998 FIFA World Cup TV International), RFO Sat (1998 FIFA World Cup TV News) |
| Georgia | 1TV |
| Germany | Das Erste, ZDF |
| Greece | ET1, NET, ET3 |
| Hong Kong Macau |
TVB Jade, TVB Pearl |
| Hungary | MTV1, MTV2 |
| India | Doordarshan National |
| Indonesia | TVRI, RCTI, SCTV, TPI, ANteve, Indosiar |
| Iran | IRIB TV1, IRIB TV2 |
| Ireland | RTÉ One, RTÉ Two |
| Israel | Channel 1, Channel 33 |
| Italy San Marino Vatican City |
Rai Uno, Rai Due, Rai Tre |
| Japan | NHK General TV, Fuji TV, TBS Television, Nippon TV, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo |
| Laos | LNTV |
| Malaysia | TV1, TV2, TV3, NTV7 |
| Mexico | Canal de las Estrellas, XHDF-TV |
| Monaco | TF1, France 2 (1998 FIFA World Cup TV2), France 3 (1998 FIFA World Cup TV3), Festival (1998 FIFA World Cup TV4), TV5Monde (1998 FIFA World Cup TV International), RFO Sat (1998 FIFA World Cup TV News), Telemontecarlo |
| Myanmar | MRTV |
| Netherlands | Nederland 1, Nederland 2, Nederland 3 |
| New Zealand | TV One, TV2 |
| Norway | NRK1, NRK2 |
| Paraguay | Telefuturo, SNT, Red Guaraní, Canal 13, Paraguay TV, La Tele, Paravisión, Canal 25, RTV |
| Peru | América Televisión, Panamericana Televisión |
| Philippines | GMA Network, SkyCable |
| Poland | TVP1, TVP2 |
| Portugal | RTP1, RTP2 |
| Russia | Russia-1, ORT |
| Slovakia | STV1, STV2 |
| South Africa | SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3 |
| South Korea | KBS |
| Spain | La Primera, La 2 |
| Sweden | SVT1, SVT2 |
| Switzerland | SF 1, TSR 2, TSI 2 |
| Taiwan | TTV, CTV, CTS, FTV |
| Thailand | Television Pool of Thailand (Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 7, Thai Color Television Channel 9 M.C.O.T., TVT11, iTV) |
| Turkey | TRT 1, TRT 2, TRT 3 |
| Ukraine | Pershyi Natsionalnyi, 1+1 |
| United Kingdom | BBC One, ITV |
| United States | ABC, ESPN, Univision |
| Uruguay | Channel 3, Monte Carlo Televisión Canal 4, Canal 10, Teledoce, Televisión Nacional Sodre, Uruvisión, Canal 27, STV |
| Venezuela | Venevisión, RCTV, VTV |
| Vietnam | VTV1, VTV3, HTV7, HTV9 |