Remember all the results of the 1998 World Cup with France’s historic victory at home

The sixteenth edition of the World Cup, played in France in June and July 1998, marked the biggest expansion of the tournament until then and consolidated the presence of 32 teams. The European country, which had already organized the event 60 years earlier, hosted the tournament with a new symbol: the Stade de France, built on the outskirts of Paris especially for the opening and final.

Behind the scenes of the competition brought the most significant change to the format since 1982. For the first time, 32 teams participated, divided into eight groups of four. Only the top two in each group advanced directly to the round of 16, eliminating the playoff for the best third-place teams.

FIFA also tightened disciplinary rules to protect the spectacle. He created the Golden Goal in extra time, which ended the match with the first goal of extra time, and instructed referees to immediately expel fouls from behind, with a straight red card.

The Brazilian team, current 1994 champion, experienced an irregular trajectory under the command of Mário Zagallo. Led by Ronaldo, the Phenomenon, the team advanced with convincing victories against Denmark and the Netherlands, but faced intense emotional pressure before the final.

Hours before the decision, Ronaldo suffered a seizure at the concentration hotel. The episode generated doubts about the lineup and shook the group. Even so, the striker went to the field, but France, led by Aimé Jacquet and inspired by Zinedine Zidane, dominated the match.

1998 World Cup results

First phase – Group A

Brazil opened the tournament with victory over Scotland at the Stade de France. Then they beat Morocco and lost to Norway in the last round, guaranteeing the lead in the group. Norway advanced second.

• June 10 – Brazil 2 x 1 Scotland – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 10 – Morocco 2 x 2 Norway – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 16 – Brazil 3 x 0 Morocco – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
• June 16 – Norway 1 x 1 Scotland – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)
• June 23 – Brazil 1 x 2 Norway – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• June 23 – Morocco 3 x 0 Scotland – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)

First phase – Group B

Italy led with Roberto Baggio in the spotlight. Chile, with Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas, drew every game and advanced in second place.

• June 11 – Italy 2 x 2 Chile – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)
• June 11 – Cameroon 1 x 1 Austria – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)
• June 17 – Chile 1 x 1 Austria – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)
• June 17 – Italy 3 x 0 Cameroon – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 23 – Italy 2 x 1 Austria – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 23 – Chile 1 x 1 Cameroon – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)

First phase – Group C

France, the home team, won the three matches with authority and 100% success. Denmark confirmed the second wave.

• June 12 – Saudi Arabia 0 x 1 Denmark – Stade Félix Bollaert (Lens)
• June 12 – France 3 x 0 South Africa – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• June 18 – South Africa 1 x 1 Denmark – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)
• June 18 – France 4 x 0 Saudi Arabia – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 24 – France 2 x 1 Denmark – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
• June 24 – South Africa 2 x 2 Saudi Arabia – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)

First phase – Group D

Considered the key to death, Nigeria led the way with vertical football and Spain’s early elimination. Paraguay, with José Luis Chilavert, advanced in second.

• June 12 – Paraguay 0 x 0 Bulgaria – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 13 – Spain 2 x 3 Nigeria – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
• June 19 – Nigeria 1 x 0 Bulgaria – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 19 – Spain 0 x 0 Paraguay – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)
• June 24 – Spain 6 x 1 Bulgaria – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 24 – Nigeria 1 x 3 Paraguay – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)

First phase – Group E

Holland led on goal difference with possession football. Mexico secured second place with heroic draws.

• June 13 – Netherlands 0 x 0 Belgium – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 13 – South Korea 1 x 3 Mexico – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
• June 20 – Netherlands 5 x 0 South Korea – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• June 20 – Belgium 2 x 2 Mexico – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)
• June 25 – Netherlands 2 x 2 Mexico – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)
• June 25 – Belgium 1 x 1 South Korea – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)

First phase – Group F

The Iran x United States duel had a diplomatic tone, with Iran winning 2-1. Germany led undefeated alongside Yugoslavia.

• June 14 – Yugoslavia 1 x 0 Iran – Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)
• June 14 – Germany 2 x 0 United States – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 21 – Germany 2 x 2 Yugoslavia – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 21 – United States 1 x 2 Iran – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
• June 25 – Germany 2 x 0 Iran – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 25 – United States 0 x 1 Yugoslavia – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)

First phase – Group G

Romania commanded with authority. The iconic moment of players bleaching their hair marked the spot. England advanced with Michael Owen in the spotlight.

• June 15 – England 2 x 0 Tunisia – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• June 15 – Romania 1 x 0 Colombia – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
• June 22 – Colombia 1 x 0 Tunisia – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 22 – Romania 2 x 1 England – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)
• June 26 – Romania 1 x 1 Tunisia – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 26 – Colombia 0 x 2 England – Stade Félix Bollaert (Lens)

First phase – Group H

Croatia, debutants, surprised with dynamic football and Davor Šuker. Argentina led with 100% success.

• June 14 – Argentina 1 x 0 Japan – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)
• June 14 – Jamaica 1 x 3 Croatia – Stade Félix Bollaert (Lens)
• June 20 – Japan 0 x 1 Croatia – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
• June 21 – Argentina 5 x 0 Jamaica – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 26 – Argentina 1 x 0 Croatia – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)
• June 26 – Japan 1 x 2 Jamaica – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)

Round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup

The knockout began with high drama. Brazil thrashed Chile. France needed the first Golden Goal in history, scored by Laurent Blanc, against Paraguay. Argentina and England decided on penalties.

• June 27 – Italy 1 x 0 Norway – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• June 27 – Brazil 4 x 1 Chile – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)
• June 28 – France 1 x 0 Paraguay (Extra Time – Golden Goal) – Stade Félix Bollaert (Lens)
• June 28 – Nigeria 1 x 4 Denmark – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• June 29 – Germany 2 x 1 Mexico – Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
• June 29 – Netherlands 2 x 1 Yugoslavia – Stade de Toulouse (Toulouse)
• June 30 – Romania 0 x 1 Croatia – Stade Parc Lescure (Bordeaux)
• June 30 – Argentina 2 x 2 England (4 x 3 on penalties) – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)

1998 World Cup quarter-finals

Holland eliminated Argentina with an iconic goal from Dennis Bergkamp. Croatia beat Germany 3-0. Brazil beat Denmark.

• July 3 – Italy 0 x 0 France (3 x 4 on penalties) – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
• July 3 – Brazil 3 x 2 Denmark – Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)
• July 4th – Germany 0 x 3 Croatia – Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
• July 4th – Netherlands 2 x 1 Argentina – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)

1998 World Cup semi-finals

Brazil drew with the Netherlands and advanced on penalties with saves from Taffarel. France turned Croatia around with two goals from Lilian Thuram.

• July 7 – Brazil 1 x 1 Netherlands (4 x 2 on penalties) – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)
• July 8 – France 2 x 1 Croatia – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)

Third place dispute

Croatia beat the Netherlands 2-1 and secured bronze, with Davor Šuker as the competition’s top scorer.

• July 11 – Netherlands 1 x 2 Croatia – Stade Parc des Princes (Paris)

1998 World Cup Final

The decision at the Stade de France brought together Brazil and France in front of more than 80 thousand fans. Ronaldo’s drama shook the Brazilian squad. Zidane opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a header from a corner and added more in the first half, repeating the set piece. With Desailly sent off, France resisted and Petit made it 3-0 in the final minutes.

• July 12 – France 3 x 0 Brazil – Stade de France (Saint-Denis)

Final classification of the 1998 World Cup

France lifted the cup for the first time. Croatia surprised in third place.

1. France (champion)
2. Brazil (runner-up)
3. Croatia
4. Netherlands
5. Italy
6. Argentina
7. Germany
8. Denmark… (and so on up to 32 teams, depending on the final position).