FRANCE 98 - History of Football in France

Past World Cups

The history of football in France started in 1872 in Le Havre, with the formation of the Havre AC (a general sports club). The first two clubs devoted mainly to football were created in 1891 in the Parisian region but were composed exclusively of British members. The first French-inspired club was the Club Parisien. From 1894, a French Championship was organized, with the first year being won by Standard AC. It was not before the 1932-1933 season that the first French Professional Championship, the French Cup which goes back to the 1917-1918 season, was held.

From that day, football acquired a number of glorious titles.

At the international level, first of all, since the French team finished in third place in the World Cup on two occasions (in 1958 in Sweden, and in 1986 in Mexico) and once in fourth place (in 1982 in Spain). Under the captaincy of Michel Platini, now the President of FRANCE 98, France won the European Championship of the Nations in 1984.

At club level, only the Olympique of Marseilles managed to win a European cup, that of the Champion Clubs in 1993.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

France is a great nation.

The performance of both the French team with national selections and of French clubs on the European scene prove this.

Just to remind you, here are some of our favorite memories of French football. Of course, the best is yet to come ...

The French Team: 1958 - Third place in the World Cup in Sweden; 1984 - Organizer and winner of Euro 84; 1986 - Third place in the World Cup in Mexico; 1990-1991 - France won eight matches in a row during the Euro 96 qualifying 1 rounds; 1996 - France participate in the final phase of Euro 96 in England

The French Olympic Team: 1984 - Gold medal winners at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

French Teams in the European Cup: 1993 - Olympique de Marseille won the European Club Champions Club; 1996 - The brilliant results of French clubs place the country in 2nd place in the UEFA index.