Where was the 1998 World Cup held? The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th edition of the international football tournament, was held in France. This event took place from June 10 to July 12, 1998, and marked the first time that the World Cup was hosted by a European country outside of Italy, Spain, and West Germany, which had previously hosted the tournament in 1934, 1982, and 1974, respectively.
The decision to award the 1998 World Cup to France was made by the FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, in May 1994. The bid was supported by the French government, which invested heavily in infrastructure and facilities to ensure a successful tournament. The choice of France as the host nation was seen as a way to promote the country’s image on the international stage and to showcase its rich cultural heritage.
The tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, including the defending champions Brazil and the host nation France. The competition was divided into eight groups, with each group consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, which included the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
One of the most memorable moments of the 1998 World Cup was the final match, which took place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris. The match was a thrilling encounter between Brazil and France, with Brazil leading 1-0 until the 90th minute. However, Zinedine Zidane scored a dramatic equalizer in the dying minutes of the match, and then scored another goal in extra time to secure a 3-0 victory for France. This victory made Zidane the first player to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach, as he had previously won the tournament as a player with the French national team in 1998.
The 1998 World Cup was also notable for several other memorable moments, including the stunning performance of Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored four goals in the tournament at the age of 37, and the historic victory of Croatia over the previously unbeaten Brazil team in the quarter-finals.
Overall, the 1998 World Cup in France was a resounding success, not only in terms of the football played but also in terms of the hosting experience and the cultural exchange it fostered. It remains a significant event in the history of international football and a testament to the power of the sport to bring people together.
