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EDITORIAL
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NEW DIMENSION
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| In 1998, the FIFA Football World Cup takes on a new dimension: 172 countries taking part (144 in 1994), 32 teams qualifying for the Finals (previously 24), and 64 matches on the programme (12 more than last time). The figures speak for themselves and convey the huge scope of the event, which in lasting 33 days will still, however, keep its streamlined proportions. To preserve the spirit of sporting equality and further improve the entertainment value at all the stadiums, we wanted each team to play its three first matches in three different cities. For the French Organising Committee, all these innovations represent a number of challenges that must be met if the biggest World Cup ever organised is to be a success on a sporting level. The size of the event reflects our ambition to make FRANCE 98 a World Cup for all the world.
Fernand SASTRE Michel PLATINI
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