The 2002 Football World Cup was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. It was the 17th edition of the tournament. For the first time in history it was organised by two countries, and also for the first time it was not held in Europe or Brazil for a record fifth time.

The format of the competiton stayed the same as in France, Portugal and Argentina not surviving the first round and Italy and Spain defeated by the Republic of Korea. Three teams reached the quarterfinals for the first time: Germany, 2-0 for their record fifth title. Amazingly, the 2002 final was the first time Brazil and Germany had ever faced one another at a World Cup. Ronaldo won the Golden Boot by scoring eight goals.

For full details of the competition, see the 2002 World Cup Tournament article.

Stadia

Each country provided 10 stadia, many of them brand new as they had been built for the tournament.

Japan

• International Stadium, Yokohama - 70,000 October 1997
• Saitama Stadium, Saitama - 63,000 July 2001
• Stadium Epoca, Shizuoka - 50,600 March 2001
• Nagai Stadium, Osaka - 50,000 May 1996
• Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi - 49,000 March 2000
• Stadium Big Eye, Oita - 43,000 March 2001
• Stadium Big Swan, Niigata - 42,300 March 2001
• Sapporo Dome, Sapporo - 42,000 May 2001
• Kashima Soccer Stadium, Ibaraki - 42,000 May 2001
• Wing Stadium, Kobe - 42,000 October 2001

South Korea

• World Cup Stadium, Daegu - 68,014 May 2001
• Sangam Stadium, Seoul - 63,961 December 2001
• Asiad Main Stadium, Busan - 55,982 July 2001
• Munhak Stadium, Incheon - 52,179 December 2001
• Munsu Cup Stadium, Ulsan - 43,550 May 2001
• Big Bird Stadium, Suwon - 43,188 May 2001
• World Cup Stadium, Gwangju - 42,880 September 2001 (renamed Guus Hiddink Stadium immediately after the 2002 World Cup)
• World Cup Stadium, Jeonju - 42,391 September 2001
• World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, Jeju - 42,256 December 2001
• World Cup Stadium, Daejeon - 40,407 September 2001

Squads

For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see Football World Cup 2002 (squads).

First round

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA Mexico 7 3 2 1 0 4 2 Italy 4 3 1 1 1 4 3 Croatia 3 3 1 0 2 2 3 Mexico Italy 2 - 0 Ecuador Italy 1 - 2 Croatia Mexico 2 - 1 Ecuador Mexico 1 - 1 Italy Croatia

Group H

Group matches

Half-time scores in brackets.

May 31:

Group A: France (0) 0 - 1 (1) Senegal

Bouba Diop 30'

Has there ever been a bigger upset on the opening day of the tournament? The World and European champions are upstaged by a French-based Senegal side.

June 1:

Group E: Ireland (0) 1 - 1 (1) Cameroon

Mboma (C) 39', Holland (I) 52'

The Irish set the tone for their World Cup rollercoaster by taking a point from the much-fancied Cameroon team--without the grit of Roy Keane.

Group A: Uruguay (0) 1 - 2 (1) Denmark

Tomasson (D) 45', Rodríguez (U) 47', Tomasson (D) 83'

Group E: Germany (4) 8 - 0 (0) Saudi Arabia

Klose 20', 25', 70', Ballack 40', Jancker 45'+, Linke 73', Bierhoff 84', Schneider 90'+

Germany puts on a master class at the expense of the hapless Saudi Arabia, scoring four goals each half. Miroslav Klose emerges as a surprise candidate for the Golden Boot.

June 2:

Group F: Argentina (0) 1 - 0 (0) Nigeria

Batistuta 63'

A second half header by Gabriel Batistuta from a corner sealed the match for Argentina.

Group B: Paraguay (1) 2 - 2 (0) South Africa

Santa Cruz (P) 39', Arce (P) 55', Mokoena (SA) 63', Fortune (SA) 91'

A late Quinton Fortune penalty saved South Africa.

Group F: England (1) 1 - 1 (0) Sweden

Campbell (E) 24', Alexandersson (S) 59'

A superb first half, followed by a dreadful second, means England get off to a rocky start.

Group B: Spain (1) 3 - 1 (0) Slovenia

Raúl (Sp) 44', Valerón (Sp) 74', Cimirotič (Sl) 82', Hierro (Sp) 87'

June 3:

Group G: Croatia (0) 0 - 1 (0) Mexico

Blanco 60'

Boris Živković’s foul on Cuauhtémoc Blanco resulted in Živković’s sending off, and a penalty, which Blanco converted.

Group C: Brazil (0) 2 - 1 (1) Turkey

Şaş (T) 47'+, Ronaldo (B) 50', Rivaldo (B) 87'

An early goal from Hasan Şaş puts the frighteners into the Brazilians, until Rivaldo taints the game with a shocking example of gamesmanship by feigning a head injury when the ball is kicked at him, getting the Turkish player Alpay Özalan sent off.

Group G: Italy (2) 2 - 0 (0) Ecuador

Vieri 7', 27'

Two first half goals from Christian Vieri gave Italy a comfortable win.

June 4:

Group C: China (0) 0 - 2 (0) Costa Rica

Gómez 61', Wright 65'

Group H: Japan (0) 2 - 2 (0) Belgium

Wilmots (B) 57', Suzuki (J) 59', Inamoto (J) 67', van der Heyden (B) 75'

Group D: South Korea (1) 2 - 0 (0) Poland

Hwang 26', Yoo 53'

South Korea win their first ever World Cup finals match at the 15th attempt, disposing of Poland amidst a sea of red in the Busan stadium.

June 5:

Group H: Russia (0) 2 - 0 (0) Tunisia

Titov 59', Karpin 64'

Group D: USA (3) 3 - 2 (1) Portugal

O'Brien (U) 4', Jorge Costa (U,OG) 29', McBride (U) 36', Beto (P) 39', Agoos (P,OG) 71'

USA upsets Portugal in a high-paced game.

Group E: Germany (1) 1 - 1 (0) Ireland

Klose (G) 19', Keane (I) 90'+

Roy Keane may not be around, but Robbie is there to score in extra time at the end of the match to achieve this stunning tie.

June 6:

Group A: France (0) 0 - 0 (0) Uruguay

After a questionable red card reduces their team to 10 men, demoralized France plays to a scoreless tie with aggressive Uruguay.

Group E: Cameroon (0) 1 - 0 (0) Saudi Arabia

Eto'o 66'

Group A: Denmark (1) 1 - 1 (0) Senegal

Tomasson (D) 16', Diao (S) 52'

June 7:

Group F: Sweden (1) 2 - 1 (1) Nigeria

Aghahowa (N) 27', Larsson (S) 35', 63'

Group B: Spain (0) 3 - 1 (1) Paraguay

Puyol (P,OG) 10', Morientes (S) 53', 69', Hierro (S) 83'

Group F: Argentina (0) 0 - 1 (1) England

Beckham 44'

England lay past ghosts to rest with a Beckham penalty that leaves Argentina in need of a win in the last game.

June 8:

Group B: South Africa (1) 1 - 0 (0) Slovenia

Nomvethe 4'

Group G: Italy (0) 1 - 2 (0) Croatia

Vieri (I) 55', Olić (C) 73', Rapaić (C) 76'

Italy loses the match after scoring the opening goal and having two goals disallowed.

Group C: Brazil (3) 4 - 0 (0) China

Roberto Carlos 15', Rivaldo 32', Ronaldinho 45', Ronaldo 55'

June 9:

Group G: Mexico (1) 2 - 1 (1) Ecuador

Delgado (E) 5', Borgetti (M) 28', Torrado (M) 57'

Group C: Costa Rica (0) 1 - 1 (0) Turkey

Belözoğlu (T) 56', Parks (CR) 86'

Group H: Japan (0) 1 - 0 (0) Russia

Inamoto 51'

June 10:

Group D: South Korea (0) 1 - 1 (1) USA

Mathis (U) 24', Ahn (K) 78'

USA withstand an impressive assault by South Korea on their home turf behind the extraordinary goalkeeping of Brad Friedel.

Group H: Tunisia (1) 1 - 1 (1) Belgium

Wilmots (B) 13', Bouzaiène (T) 17'

Group D: Portugal (1) 4 - 0 (0) Poland

Pauleta 14', 65', 77', Rui Costa (Por) 88'

June 11:

Group A: Denmark (1) 2 - 0 (0) France

Rommedahl 22', Tomasson 67'

Even with the return of Zinedine Zidane, France are unable to score even one goal and crash out of the tournament.

Group A: Senegal (3) 3 - 3 (0) Uruguay

Fadiga (S) 20', Bouba Diop (S) 26', Bouba Diop (S) 38', Morales (U) 46', Forlan (U) 69', Recoba (U) 88'

A thrilling 3-3 draw puts Senegal into the playoffs.

Group E: Cameroon (0) 0 - 2 (0) Germany

Bode 50', Klose 79'

Germany beat Cameroon with strength and skill.

Group E: Saudi Arabia (0) 0 - 3 (1) Ireland

Keane 7', Breen 61', Duff 87'

Ireland scores more than one goal for the first time in the World Cup.

June 12:

Group B: South Africa (1) 2 - 3 (2) Spain

Raúl (Sp) 4', McCarthy (SA) 30', Mendieta (Sp) 44', Radebe (SA) 42', Raúl (Sp) 56'

Group B: Slovenia (1) 1 - 3 (0) Paraguay

Ačimovič (Sl) 45'+1', Cuevas (P) 66', Campos (P) 74', Cuevas (P) 84'

Group F: Sweden (0) 1 - 1 (0) Argentina

A. Svensson (S) 58', Crespo (A) 88'

Group F: Nigeria (0) 0 - 0 (0) England

A dire game that gets England into the next round.

June 13:

Group C: Costa Rica (1) 2 - 5 (3) Brazil

Ronaldo (B) 10', 13', Edmilson (B) 38', Wanchope (C) 39', Gómez (C) 56', Rivaldo (B) 62', Junior (B) 64'

Group C: Turkey (2) 3 - 0 (0) China

Şaş 6', Korkmaz 9', Davala 85'

Group G: Mexico (1) 1 - 1 (0) Italy

Borgetti (M) 34' , Del Piero (I) 85'

Just one regular score nullified, this time, and Italy draws.

Group G: Ecuador (0) 1 - 0 (0) Croatia

Méndez 48'

June 14:

Group D: Portugal (0) 0 - 1 (0) Korea

Park 70'

South Korea clinch qualification for the 2nd round with a stunning goal against a poor Portugese side.

Group D: Poland (2) 3 - 1 (0) USA

Olisadebe (P) 3', Kryszałowicz (P) 5', Żewłakow (P) 66', Donovan (U) 83'

Group H: Tunisia (0) 0 - 2 (0) Japan

Morishima 48', Nakata 75'

Group H: Belgium (1) 3 - 2 (0) Russia

Walem (B) 7', Beschastnykh (R) 52', Sonck (B) 78', Wilmots (B) 82', Sychev (R) 88'

Round of sixteen

June 15:

1 - Germany (0) 1 - 0 (0) Paraguay

Neuville 88'

2 - Denmark (0) 0 - 3 (0) England

Ferdinand 5', Owen 22', Heskey 44'

A comprehensive win for England over a nervous-looking Danish side.

June 16:

3 - Sweden (1) 1 - 2 (1) Senegal (Senegal win 2-1 AET)

Larsson (Swe) 11', Camara (Sen) 37', Camara (Sen) 104'

4 - Spain (1) 1 - 1 (0) Ireland (Spain win 3-2 on penalties)

Morientes (S) 8', Keane (I) 90'

With some of the most ineffective penalty taking ever seen, Ireland do themselves little justice as they lose to Spain.

June 17:

5 - Mexico (0) 0 - 2 (1) USA

McBride 8', Donovan 65'

US scores twice against the run of play to frustrate their continental neighbors and add fuel to a growing rivalry.

6 - Brazil (0) 2 - 0 (0) Belgium

Rivaldo 67', Ronaldo 88'

Belgium are a little unlucky as their veteran striker exposes the Brazilian defensive weaknesses.

June 18:

7 - Japan (0) 0 - 1 (1) Turkey

Davala 12'

8 - Korea R. (0) 1 - 1 (1) Italy (Korea win 2-1 AET)

Vieri (I) 18', Seol (K) 88', Ahn (K) 116'

Continuing the trend of shocks, this game send the Azzuri home early, while the Koreans go marching on.

Quarterfinals

June 21:

9 - England (1) 1 - 2 (1) Brazil

Owen (E) 23', Rivaldo (B) 47'+, Ronaldinho (B) 50'

A fluke goal/moment of genius from Ronaldinho is too much for a tiring England side.

10 - Germany (1) 1 - 0 (0) USA

Ballack 38'

USA are unlucky to be knocked out as controversial refereeing denies them a certain penalty.

June 22:

11 - Spain (0) 0 - 0 (0) Korea R. (Korea win 5-3 on penalties)

Korea advances to the semifinal amid cries of refereeing bias by Spanish fans.

12 - Senegal (0) 0 - 1 (0) Turkey (Turkey win 1-0 AET)

Mansız 94'

Semifinals

June 25:

13 - Germany (0) 1 - 0 (0) Korea R.

Ballack 74'

Michael Ballack's booking rules him out of the final, but his goal puts Germany through.

June 26:

14 - Brazil (0) 1 - 0 (0) Turkey

Ronaldo 49'

Ronaldo's toepoke is enough to get the Brazilians within touching distance of their fifth world title.

Third place match

June 29:

Korea R. (1) 2 - 3 (3) Turkey

Şükür (T) 1', Lee Eul-Yong (K) 9', Mansız (T) 13', 32', Song (K) 93'+

A Korean kickoff followed by a backfield mistake leads to a goal for Turkey in a stunning 11 seconds. A feisty Korean side quickly equalize on a near-perfect free kick and a spirited game ensues.

Final

June 30:

Germany (0) 0 - 2 (0) Brazil

Ronaldo 67', 79'

The legend that is Ronaldo finally comes good in a World Cup final, scoring two and humbling the mighty Oliver Kahn in the German goal. Germany surprise a few people by taking the game to Brazil in the first half and creating some good scoring chances.

Top Scorers

8 goals

• Ronaldo

5 goals

• Miroslav Klose
• Rivaldo

4 goals

• Jon Dahl Tomasson
• Christian Vieri

3 goals