France 98 - The venues

The 1998 World Cup will take us all on a journey through France, its historic towns and vibrant cities, from north to south, coast to country, and everywhere in between.  Ten venues play host to this year's tournament, spanning the length and breadth of the country.

Lens - Stade Felix-Bollaert
The most northerly outpost of the 1998 World Cup, Stade Felix-Bollaert was built in 1933, and is the home of RC Lens.  With a capacity of 41,000, the stadium has the interesting quirk of having a greater capacity than the population of the town in which it sits.  This summer, it will see five group matches, including the battle between newbies Jamaica and Croatia on 14 June, and England’s tie with Colombia on 26 June.  One second-round match will also be played here.

Nantes - Stade de la Beaujoire

A relatively new facility in France, Stade de la Beaujoire was opened in 1984 and was a host for the 1984 European Championship (France beat Belgium 5-0 in a group match here.)  Renovated for this World Cup, the conversion to all-seater status has actually reduced capacity here from nearly 53,000 to 38,128.  Avid English rock fans may be familiar with the venue, for in the past decade, The Police, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Sting, and Dire Straits have all graced the stage here.  Five group matches and one quarter-final match will take place here, with the highlight for many being the Brazil versus Morocco match on 16 June.

Toulouse - Stadium de Toulouse
Built in 1937 for the 1938 World Cup, where it hosted a 3-3 draw between Cuba and Romania, followed by a replay, which Cuba won 2-1.  The stadium received extensive renovations in 1949, and again in 1997, which increased its capacity to 33,500.  This summer it hosts five group matches, and one second-round match.  Toulousians will enjoy an African flavour at this world cup, with visits from Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria during the group stages.

Bordeaux - Stade du Parc Lescure
So called after the fallow lands upon which it was built in 1930, and a classified historic building.  A series of expansions have occurred to bring the capacity up to 35,200.  Brazil played here three times in the 1938 tournament, including their 4-2 third-place-play-off win over Sweden.  This summer, the stadium will host five group matches, including heavyweights Argentina in their match against Croatia on 26 June.  One second-round match will also take place in this historic stadium.

Marseille - Stade Vélodrome

Stade Vélodrome, on the balmy French Riviera, was first built in 1935, and has been completely renovated for the World Cup, with capacity increased from 42,000 to 60,031.  A key centre of the tournament, seven matches will be played in Marseille – France will kick off their campaign here against South Africa on 12 June, with England, the Netherlands and Brazil all visiting during the group stages.  The stadium will play host to one second-round, one quarter-final, and one semi-final match – the most of any stadium aside from Stade de France.

Montpellier - Stade de la Mosson
The undoubted shock host in this summer’s tournament, given the prize ahead of Strasbourg, much to the surprise of many.  Formerly a 16,000-seater stadium, Stade de la Mosson has been entirely rebuilt for the 1998 World Cup, and will host six games in this year’s competition.  Now with a capacity of 34,000, Montpelliérains should be particularly excited to host the Italy versus Cameroon match, which takes place on 17 June, and the Germany versus Iran match, on 25 June.  Stade de la Mosson will also play host to one second-round match.

Saint-Étienne - Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

Opened in 1931, this stadium has seen significant investment to bring it up-to-standard for the 1998 World Cup.  Dressing rooms were renovated, disabled access installed, old floodlight towers dismantled, and new balcony seats added to stands, at a cost of 100 million francs.  A further 60 million francs was spent on facilities outside the stadium.  The renovated stadium only opened on 12 May 1998, one month before it hosts its first match, when Yugoslavia take on Iran on 14 June.  A capacity of 30,600, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will host five group matches, and one second-round match.

Lyon - Stade de Gerland

A very historic stadium for a very history city, construction of Stade de Gerland started in 1914, and was finished in 1919, with the assistance of a large number of German POWs.  Updated and modernised over the years, the stadium was converted to all-seater status for this World Cup.  With a capacity of 40,500, Lyon locals will be cheering on Les Bleus during France’s group match against Denmark here on 24 June.

Paris - Parc des Princes

Now in its third guise, the current Parc des Princes has, until now, been the national home of the French football team.  In its illustrious history, it has hosted five European club football finals, including this summer’s UEFA Cup final between Lazio and Internazionale.  Usurped as the French home of football by Stade de France, Parc des Princes will still play a pivotal role in this year’s World Cup, hosting four group matches, a second-round match, and the tournament’s third-place-play-off on 11 June.

Saint-Denis - Stade de France

The showpiece of the 1998 World Cup, Stade de France makes its long-awaited debut in this year’s tournament, and will host many of the key matches.  To many visitors this is Paris by any other name, for the stadium lies just north of Montmartre in the arrondissement of Saint-Denis.  The World Cup kicks off here when Brazil take on Scotland on 10 June, with another four group matches following.  The stadium will also host a second-round, quarter-final and semi-final match, before the final itself takes place here on 12 July.