The 1998 FIFA World Cup was hosted by France from June 10 to July 12, 1998, and was the first World Cup to feature 32 teams. France won its first world title, beating defending champion Brazil 3-0 in the final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, with Zinedine Zidane scoring two headers and Emmanuel Petit adding a third in stoppage time. Croatia finished third in its first World Cup, Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot with six goals, and Brazil’s Ronaldo was named the best player despite a mysterious illness before the final. The tournament also saw the first golden goal in World Cup history and many unforgettable matches.
Key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host | France |
| Dates | June 10 to July 12, 1998 |
| Teams | 32 (first time) |
| Matches | 64 |
| Venues | 10 stadiums in 10 cities |
| Champion | France (first title) |
| Runner-up | Brazil |
| Third place | Croatia |
| Final | France 3-0 Brazil (Zidane 2, Petit) |
| Top scorer | Davor Šuker, 6 goals |
| Best player | Ronaldo |
A bigger World Cup
France 1998 expanded the tournament from 24 to 32 teams, creating eight groups of four. The top two teams from each group advanced to a round of 16, a format that remained in place through 2022. The expansion gave more places to Africa, Asia and other regions, and four nations made their World Cup debuts: Croatia, Jamaica, Japan and South Africa. Matches were played across ten cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lens. The new Stade de France, built for the tournament in Saint-Denis just north of Paris, hosted the opening match and the final.
The group stage
The group stage delivered memorable moments. Nigeria beat Spain 3-2 in an exciting match, and Spain went out in the group stage. Iran beat the United States 2-1 in a politically charged game that was marked by friendly gestures between the players. Jamaica, nicknamed the Reggae Boyz, won a match in its first World Cup, beating Japan. France won all three group games, though Zinedine Zidane was sent off against Saudi Arabia and suspended for two matches. Norway beat Brazil in the group stage, but both teams advanced.
The knockout rounds
The round of 16 produced two of the tournament’s most famous matches. France beat Paraguay 1-0 when defender Laurent Blanc scored the first golden goal in World Cup history in extra time. England and Argentina drew 2-2 in Saint-Étienne in a dramatic match that included a spectacular solo goal from 18-year-old Michael Owen and a red card for David Beckham. Argentina won the shootout.
In the quarterfinals, France beat Italy on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Dennis Bergkamp scored a stunning late winner for the Netherlands against Argentina, controlling a long pass and finishing in one fluid movement. Croatia thrashed Germany 3-0, one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, while Brazil beat Denmark 3-2.
In the semifinals, France came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 thanks to two goals from defender Lilian Thuram, the only goals he ever scored for France. Brazil beat the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Croatia then beat the Netherlands 2-1 to finish third, a remarkable achievement for a country competing at its first World Cup as an independent nation.
The golden goal rule
The golden goal was a rule under which the first goal scored in extra time immediately ended the match. FIFA introduced it to encourage attacking play and reduce the number of games decided by penalty shootouts. Laurent Blanc’s winner against Paraguay in 1998 was the first golden goal at a World Cup, and the rule was used again in 2002, most famously when South Korea beat Italy. Critics argued it often made teams more cautious in extra time rather than less, and FIFA and UEFA experimented with a silver goal variant before abandoning both systems. Since 2006, knockout matches at the World Cup have used a full 30 minutes of extra time followed by penalties if needed.
France’s squad
France’s winning team combined a strong defense with creativity in midfield. The back line, including Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc and Bixente Lizarazu, with Fabien Barthez in goal, conceded only two goals in the whole tournament. Didier Deschamps and Emmanuel Petit anchored the midfield, supporting Zidane and Youri Djorkaeff in attacking roles. Younger players such as Thierry Henry, who was the team’s top scorer with three goals, David Trezeguet and Patrick Vieira also featured, and several of them went on to become stars of the next decade.
Ronaldo and the build-up to the final
Brazil’s Ronaldo, then widely seen as the best player in the world, arrived at the final at the center of one of the World Cup’s great mysteries. On the day of the match, he suffered a convulsive fit at the team hotel. He was initially left off the team sheet submitted before kickoff, then reinstated shortly before the game. He played the full match but was far from his best. Exactly what happened and why he was selected have been debated for years, including in a Brazilian parliamentary inquiry, and accounts from those involved differ.
The final
The final took place on July 12, 1998, at the Stade de France. Zinedine Zidane headed France in front from a corner in the first half and scored a second header from another corner shortly before halftime. France finished the match with ten men after Marcel Desailly was sent off, but Emmanuel Petit sealed the 3-0 victory in stoppage time. Coached by Aimé Jacquet and captained by Didier Deschamps, France won its first World Cup. Celebrations filled the streets across the country, with huge crowds on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Stars of the tournament
Zidane became a national hero after his performance in the final. Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot with six goals, leading Croatia’s historic run. Ronaldo won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Michael Owen announced himself to the world with his goal against Argentina, while Thuram, Bergkamp, Rivaldo, Gabriel Batistuta and goalkeeper Fabien Barthez also stood out.
Legacy
France’s victory was celebrated as a triumph for a diverse squad that reflected modern France, and it began a golden era for the national team, which went on to win Euro 2000. The 32-team format introduced in 1998 lasted until the 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 teams. Croatia’s third-place finish announced the country as a football power, a status later confirmed by reaching the 2018 final. The Stade de France has since become the home of the French national team.
How to explore the 1998 World Cup
- Watch key matches such as England vs Argentina, France vs Croatia and the final.
- Look at FIFA’s official records for results and statistics.
- Read about Ronaldo’s pre-final illness from multiple sources.
- Explore Croatia’s debut run and Šuker’s Golden Boot.
- Learn about the golden goal rule and why it was later dropped.
Common misconceptions
- That France had won before. 1998 was France’s first World Cup title.
- That Ronaldo did not play the final. He was restored to the lineup and played the full match.
- That the golden goal decided the final. It was first used in France’s round of 16 win over Paraguay.
- That the World Cup always had 32 teams. 1998 was the first with 32.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 1998 World Cup?
France, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Who scored in the 1998 World Cup final?
Zinedine Zidane scored twice and Emmanuel Petit once.
How many teams played at the 1998 World Cup?
32, the first World Cup at that size.
