The 1998 Football World Cup was held in France. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final. This was the first World Cup title for France, who joined Brazil and five others (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, England, and Argentina) to be world champions.
The format of the competition changed from 1994: it was expanded to 32 teams, divided into eight groups of four. 16 teams: eight group winners and eight second place finishers would qualify for the knockout competition.
Davor Šuker of surprise third place finisher Croatia won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals.
This World Cup tournament was the first one for the countries of Croatia, Jamaica, Japan, and South Africa.
Group A results:
Brazil 2-1 Scotland
Morocco 2-2 Norway
Scotland 1-1 Norway
Brazil 3-0 Morocco
Scotland 0-3 Morocco
Brazil 1-2 Norway
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6
|
| Norway | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 5
|
| Morocco | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4
|
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1
|
Group B results:
Italy 2-2 Chile
Cameroon 1-1 Austria
Chile 1-1 Austria
Italy 3-0 Cameroon
Italy 2-1 Austria
Chile 1-1 Cameroon
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Italy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7
|
| Chile | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3
|
| Austria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2
|
| Cameroon | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2
|
Group C results:
Saudi Arabia 0-1 Denmark
France 3-0 South Africa
South Africa 1-1 Denmark
France 4-0 Saudi Arabia
France 2-1 Denmark
South Africa 2-2 South Arabia
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 9
|
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4
|
| S Africa | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2
|
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1
|
Group D results:
Paraguay 0-0 Bulgaria
Spain 2-3 Nigeria
Nigeria 1-0 Bulgaria
Spain 0-0 Paraguay
Spain 6-1 Bulgaria
Nigeria 1-3 Paraguay
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6
|
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5
|
| Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4
|
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1
|
Group E results:
South Korea 1-3 Mexico
Holland 0-0 Belgium
Belgium 2-2 Mexico
Holland 5-0 South Korea
Belgium 1-1 South Korea
Holland 2-2 Mexico
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Holland | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5
|
| Mexico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 5
|
| Belgium | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3
|
| S Korea | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1
|
Group F results:
Yugoslavia 1-0 Iran
Germany 2-0 USA
Germany 2-2 Yugoslavia
USA 1-2 Iran
Germany 2-0 Iran
USA 0-1 Yugoslavia
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 7
|
| Yugoslavia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7
|
| Iran | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3
|
| USA | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0
|
Group G results:
England 2-0 Tunisia
Romania 1-0 Colombia
Colombia 1-0 Tunisia
Romania 2-1 England
Romania 1-1 Tunisia
Colombia 0-2 England
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Romania | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7
|
| England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6
|
| Colombia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3
|
| Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1
|
Group H results
Argentina 1-0 Japan
Jamaica 1-3 Croatia
Japan 0-1 Croatia
Argentina 5-0 Jamaica
Japan 1-2 Jamaica
Argentina 1-0 Croatia
| | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts
|
| Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9
|
| Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6
|
| Jamaica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3
|
| Japan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0
|
Second round results:
Italy 1-0 Norway
Brazil 4-1 Chile
France 1-0 Paraguay (aet)
(France won on golden goal)
Nigeria 1-4 Denmark
Germany 2-1 Mexico
Holland 2-1 Yugoslavia
Romania 0-1 Croatia
Argentina 2-2 England (aet)
(Argentina won 4-3 on penalties)
Quarter-final results:
Italy 0-0 France (aet)
(France won 4-3 on penalties)
Brazil 3-2 Denmark
Holland 2-1 Argentina
Germany 0-3 Croatia
Semi-final results:
Brazil 1-1 Holland (aet)
(Brazil won 4-2 on penalties)
France 2-1 Croatia
3rd/4th place play-off:
Holland 1-2 Croatia
World Cup Final:
Brazil 0-3 France