1998 World Cup Final
France 3–0 Brazil: Zidane's double secures first World Cup for hosts
The final match of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th edition of the quadrennial football competition organised by FIFA for the men's national teams of its member associations, was played at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on 12 July 1998, and was contested by defending champions Brazil and hosts France. The final took place in front of 80,000 supporters, with an estimated 1.3 billion watching on television, and was refereed by Said Belqola from Morocco. France won 3–0, with goals from Zinedine Zidane (two headers from corners) and Emmanuel Petit.
Quick Facts
- Date
- July 12, 1998
- Venue
- Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Result
- France 3–0 Brazil
- Referee
- Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
- Brazil captain
- Cafu
- France captain
- Didier Deschamps
Lore & Background
Before the match, speculation surrounded the fitness of striker Ronaldo, who was initially left out of Brazil's starting line-up, only to be restored to the team before kick-off. France took the lead shortly before the half-hour mark, when Zinedine Zidane outjumped Leonardo to connect with a header from an in-swinging corner from the right taken by Emmanuel Petit. Zidane scored again, with another header from a corner, shortly before half-time to give France a 2–0 lead. Petit then added a third goal in second-half injury time, striking the ball low into the net following a pass by Patrick Vieira, to complete a 3–0 win for France. France's win was their first World Cup title, as they became the seventh different nation to win the tournament. Ronaldo was awarded the Golden Ball as FIFA's outstanding player of the tournament.
Reader's Guide
The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the 16th edition of the World Cup, held in France between 10 June and 12 July 1998. The finals featured 32 teams for the first time. Both France and Brazil qualified automatically – France as hosts and Brazil as winners of the previous World Cup. Brazil finished first in Group A, with two wins and one defeat, then beat Chile in the round of 16, Denmark in the quarter-finals and the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals. France finished top of Group C with three wins, then defeated Paraguay in the round of 16, Italy in the quarter-final, and Croatia in the semi-final. The match ball was the Adidas Tricolore.
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