Soccer World cup France 1998 5F Coin /Cover, First Day of Issue(Solid silver)
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, hosted by France, was a historic event in the world of football. France was chosen as the host nation for the second time in FIFA World Cup history. The country previously hosted the tournament in 1938. The decision to award France the hosting rights came after defeating Morocco in the bidding process. The 1998 World Cup saw an expansion of the group stage, with the number of teams increased from 24 to 32. This meant there were eight groups of four teams each, resulting in a total of 64 matches played. Matches were held in 10 stadiums across 10 host cities in France. The tournament opened and closed at the newly constructed Stade de France in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris. Spanning 32 days, the 1998 FIFA World Cup remains the longest tournament in the history of the competition. The host nation, France, emerged as the champions of the tournament, defeating defending champions Brazil 3–0 in the final match. This victory marked France’s first-ever World Cup title, making them the seventh nation to win the prestigious trophy. France’s triumph was particularly significant as they became the sixth team to win the World Cup while hosting the tournament. Prior to France, Uruguay, Italy, England, West Germany, and Argentina had also achieved this feat. Several teams made their first appearances in the FIFA World Cup finals during the 1998 tournament. These included Croatia, Jamaica, Japan, and South Africa, adding to the global diversity of the competition. Overall, the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was a memorable event that showcased the excitement and passion of football on the world stage, culminating in a historic victory for the host nation.
