The 2002 FIFA World Cup, played from May 31 to June 30, 2002, was the first World Cup held in Asia and the first co-hosted by two countries, South Korea and Japan. Brazil won a record fifth title, beating Germany 2-0 in the final in Yokohama with two goals from Ronaldo, who also won the Golden Boot with eight goals. Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was named the best player. The tournament was full of surprises: Senegal beat defending champion France in the opening match, co-host South Korea reached the semifinals, Turkey finished third and holders France and Argentina both went out in the group stage.
Key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hosts | South Korea and Japan |
| Dates | May 31 to June 30, 2002 |
| Teams | 32 |
| Venues | 20 stadiums, 10 in each country |
| Champion | Brazil (fifth title) |
| Runner-up | Germany |
| Third place | Turkey |
| Final | Brazil 2-0 Germany (Ronaldo 2), Yokohama |
| Top scorer | Ronaldo, 8 goals |
| Best player | Oliver Kahn |
The first World Cup in Asia
FIFA awarded the tournament jointly to South Korea and Japan in 1996, after both countries had bid separately. It was the first time the World Cup was shared between two hosts and the first time it was held outside Europe and the Americas. Each country hosted ten stadiums, many of them newly built. The opening match was played in Seoul and the final in Yokohama. The time difference meant many matches were broadcast in the early morning in Europe, but the tournament drew enormous interest across Asia and helped expand the sport’s popularity in the region.
Shocks in the group stage
The tournament began with one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Senegal, playing in its first World Cup, beat defending champion France 1-0 in the opening match in Seoul, with Papa Bouba Diop scoring. France, missing an injured Zinedine Zidane for its first two games, went out without scoring a goal. Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favorites, also exited in the group stage. Germany opened with an 8-0 win over Saudi Arabia, with Miroslav Klose scoring a hat-trick of headers on his way to five headed goals in the tournament. Both co-hosts topped their groups, with South Korea beating Poland and Portugal and Japan reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
South Korea’s historic run
Coached by Guus Hiddink, South Korea became the first Asian team to reach a World Cup semifinal. In the round of 16, Ahn Jung-hwan scored a golden goal to beat Italy 2-1 in extra time. In the quarterfinals, South Korea beat Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Both matches were marked by controversial refereeing decisions that are still debated, particularly in Italy and Spain. South Korea’s run ended with a 1-0 semifinal loss to Germany, and it lost the third-place match to Turkey. The team’s success sparked huge celebrations, with millions of fans gathering in the streets of Seoul and other cities.
Turkey, Senegal and the United States
Turkey, appearing in its first World Cup since 1954, reached the semifinals, where it lost 1-0 to Brazil. In the third-place match, Hakan Şükür scored after about 11 seconds against South Korea, the fastest goal in World Cup history, and Turkey won 3-2. Senegal reached the quarterfinals before losing to Turkey on a golden goal. The United States also had its best modern run, beating Portugal in the group stage and Mexico in the round of 16 before losing 1-0 to Germany in the quarterfinals.
Brazil’s road to the title
Brazil arrived after a difficult qualifying campaign but won all seven of its matches in the tournament. Coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari and captained by Cafu, the team was built around an attacking trio often called the three Rs: Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. In the quarterfinals against England, Ronaldinho scored a free kick from long range that looped over goalkeeper David Seaman, before being sent off, and Brazil won 2-1. Ronaldo’s winner against Turkey in the semifinal set up a final against Germany.
Ronaldo’s comeback
Ronaldo’s performance in 2002 was one of football’s great comeback stories. After the mystery surrounding his illness before the 1998 final, he suffered serious knee injuries that kept him out for most of the following years. Many doubted he would return to his best. In 2002 he scored in every match but one, finishing with eight goals, the most at a single World Cup since 1970. His two goals in the final completed a remarkable turnaround.
Germany’s route to the final
Germany entered the tournament with modest expectations after a difficult period, including a heavy home defeat to England in qualifying and a trip through the playoffs. Under coach Rudi Völler, the team relied on a disciplined defense, Kahn’s goalkeeping, Ballack’s goals from midfield and Klose’s aerial threat. After the 8-0 opening win, Germany beat Paraguay, the United States and South Korea by a single goal each in the knockout rounds. Ballack scored the winners against both the United States and South Korea. Reaching the final exceeded most predictions and began a revival that continued through the 2006 World Cup on home soil.
Japan as co-host
Japan, coached by Philippe Troussier, also enjoyed a successful tournament. The team topped a group that included Belgium, Russia and Tunisia, recording its first ever World Cup wins, before losing 1-0 to Turkey in the round of 16. The tournament accelerated the growth of the J.League and helped more Japanese players move to top European clubs in the years that followed.
The final
The final on June 30, 2002, at the International Stadium Yokohama was the first World Cup meeting between Brazil and Germany, the two most successful nations in the tournament’s history at the time. Germany was without midfielder Michael Ballack, who was suspended after picking up a yellow card in the semifinal. Oliver Kahn, who had been outstanding throughout, spilled a shot from Rivaldo, and Ronaldo scored the rebound. Ronaldo added a second after a clever dummy from Rivaldo, and Brazil won 2-0. Kahn became the first goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball.
Legacy
The 2002 World Cup showed that the tournament could succeed in Asia and paved the way for future events outside football’s traditional heartlands, including South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022. It also showed the growing strength of teams from Africa, Asia and North America. The refereeing controversies involving South Korea contributed to wider debates about officiating that continued for years, long before the arrival of video assistant referees.
How to explore the 2002 World Cup
- Watch key matches such as Senegal vs France, South Korea vs Italy and the final.
- Check FIFA’s official records for results and statistics.
- Read about co-hosting, the first shared World Cup.
- Explore Ronaldo’s comeback from injury.
- Compare views on the refereeing controversies from different countries.
Common misconceptions
- That Japan hosted alone. South Korea and Japan were co-hosts.
- That France defended well. The holders went out in the group without scoring.
- That Ballack played the final. He was suspended.
- That a Brazilian won the Golden Ball. It went to Germany’s Oliver Kahn.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2002 World Cup?
Brazil, beating Germany 2-0 in the final.
Where was the 2002 World Cup held?
In South Korea and Japan, the first co-hosted World Cup.
Who was the top scorer at the 2002 World Cup?
Ronaldo, with eight goals.
