World Cup Football

Football World Cup > Hosts > France 98

France, 1998

Tournament

• An accumulated audience of over 37 billion people watched the France 98 tournament, including approximately 1.3 billion for the final alone, while over 2.7 million people flocked to watch the 64 matches in the French stadia.

World Cup Firsts

(more Firsts)

• The first player to score a golden goal was Laurent Blanc of France in the 113th minute in the Second Round match against Paraquay on 28 June 1998.

• The first French player to be sent off in World Cup finals was Z indine Zidane, in the First Round match against Saudi Arabia on 18 June 1998. France had kept a clean sheet for 68 years until France 98!