World Cup 2026 / History

1998 FIFA World Cup

Hosted by France. Zidane scored twice as France won at home. Tournament expanded to 32 teams.

Champion
France
Runner-up
Brazil
Top scorer
Davor Šuker (6)
Total goals
171

The 1998 FIFA World Cup at a glance

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was hosted by France and contested by 32 teams over 64 matches, producing 171 goals (2.67 per match). Zidane scored twice as France won at home. Tournament expanded to 32 teams. The final, France 3-0 Brazil, was played at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

Davor Šuker of Croatia won the Golden Boot with 6 goals. Scoring rate of 2.67 goals per match was 0.04 lower than the previous edition's 2.71. Final standings: 1st France, 2nd Brazil, 3rd Croatia, 4th Netherlands.

Final

Score
France 3-0 Brazil
Venue
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Tournament

Host
France
Teams · Matches
32 teams · 64 matches
3rd / 4th place
Croatia / Netherlands

1998 FIFA World Cup records

ChampionFrance
Runner-upBrazil
Third placeCroatia
Fourth placeNetherlands
Final scoreFrance 3-0 Brazil
Final venueStade de France, Saint-Denis
Host countryFrance
Teams32
Matches64
Goals171
Goals per match2.67
Top scorerDavor Šuker (6 goals)
Top scorer nationalityCroatia

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

France won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, beating Brazil 3-0 Brazil in the final at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

Where was the 1998 World Cup held?

The 1998 FIFA World Cup was hosted by France. The final was played at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

Who was the top scorer at the 1998 World Cup?

Davor Šuker of Croatia was the top scorer at the 1998 FIFA World Cup with 6 goals.

How many teams and matches were at the 1998 World Cup?

32 teams played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, totalling 64 matches and 171 goals — an average of 2.67 goals per match across roughly 32 days.

Who finished 3rd and 4th at the 1998 World Cup?

Croatia finished third and Netherlands finished fourth at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

How did the 1998 World Cup differ from the previous edition?

The previous FIFA World Cup, in 1994, was won by Brazil (141 goals across 52 matches; 2.71 goals per match). The 1998 edition produced 171 goals across 64 matches (2.67 per match) and was won by France.

What is the significance of the 1998 World Cup?

Zidane scored twice as France won at home. Tournament expanded to 32 teams.

Can I get 1998 World Cup historical data via API?

Yes. TheStatsAPI provides historical FIFA World Cup data going back to 1930, including match results, lineups, top scorers, final standings, and team appearance records. Query historical endpoints with year=1998 to retrieve the full dataset.

Get historical World Cup data via API

Match results, top scorers, finals, and team records from 1930 to today. 7-day free trial.