1998 FIFA World Cup

Notes

First WC with 32 teams (expanded from 24); 8 groups of 4 → R16 → QF → SF → 3rd → Final, the format that has held since. France's first title — Zinedine Zidane scored two headers in the 3-0 final win over Brazil. Brazil's Ronaldo was hospitalised with a mystery seizure hours before the final but played anyway. Croatia, on their first independent WC appearance, finished third with Šuker as Golden Boot. Iran beat USA 2-1 in a politically charged Group F match. Beckham red card vs Argentina cost England in R16. Golden Goal extra-time rule (first goal in ET wins): France-Paraguay decided by Blanc.

Awards & marks

Best player

Ronaldo

Best GK

Fabien Barthez

Ball

Adidas Tricolore

Mascot

Footix

Top scorers

1. 1.Davor ŠukerCroatia· Forwards6
2. 2.Christian VieriItaly· Forwards5
3. 3.Gabriel BatistutaArgentina· Forwards5
4. 4.RonaldoBrazil· Forwards4
5. 5.Luis HernándezMexico· Forwards4
6. 6.Marcelo SalasChile· Forwards4
7. 7.Thierry HenryFrance· Forwards3
8. 8.César SampaioBrazil· Midfielders3
9. 9.RivaldoBrazil· Midfielders3
10. 10.BebetoBrazil· Forwards3

France's road to the title

1. r16vs Paraguay1-0 (a.e.t.)
2. qfvs Italy0-0 (4-3 pens)
3. sfvs Croatia2-1
4. finalvs Brazil3-0

Confederation breakdown

• UEFA15
• CONMEBOL5
• Concacaf3
• CAF5
• AFC4
• OFC0

📚 Trivia (5)

• firsts1998 was the first WC with 32 teams (expanded from 24). Format: 8 groups of 4 → straight R16 → QF/SF/Final, with no 'best 3rd-place' wildcards. This format remained from 1998 through 2022 — the longest-running structure in WC history.
• finalsZinedine Zidane scored two headers (27', 45') in France's 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 final at Stade de France. Petit added a third in the 93rd. France's first World Cup title.
• contextRonaldo collapsed with a seizure hours before the 1998 final and was initially left out of the team sheet. He was reinstated 45 minutes before kickoff under unclear circumstances. Brazil lost 0-3; Ronaldo played but was a shadow of himself. The cause has never been fully explained.
• firstsCroatia, on their first World Cup appearance as an independent nation, finished third — eliminating Germany 3-0 in the QF. Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot with 6 goals. They reached another final in 2018 (lost to France).
• matchesIran 2-1 USA on 21 June 1998 was the first meeting between the two nations in any sport since the 1979 hostage crisis. The political weight made it one of the most-watched matches of the tournament. Iranian players gave the USA team white roses pre-match.