France at the FIFA World Cup France at the FIFA World Cup This is a record of France's results at the FIFA World Cup. France was one of the four European teams that participated at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and have appeared in 15 FIFA World Cups, tied for the sixth most of any country. The national team is one of eight to have won the FIFA World Cup title and one of only six to have done so more than once. The French team won its first World Cup title in 1998. The tournament was played on home soil and France defeated Brazil
1970 FIFA World Cup Mexican Football Federation and the Local Organising Committee, drew out the teams from four silver cups. For a list of all squads that appeared in the final tournament, see "1970 FIFA World Cup squads". Following the opening ceremony host nation Mexico faced the Soviet Union; this was the last time until the 2006 World Cup that the host nation's first match rather than the World Cup holders' began the tournament. Both this opening match of Group 1 and many others during the competition kicked off at noon for the benefit of European television schedules, meaning play under the midday sun.