Chile’s 1998 season was a landmark in national football history, marking their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup after a 16-year absence.
Under coach Nelson Acosta, Chile qualified impressively from South America, led by the iconic strike duo Marcelo Salas and Iván Zamorano, nicknamed “Za-Sa.” The team also featured key players like Clarence Acuña, Pedro Reyes, Nelson Tapia, and Fabián Estay.
At the France 1998 World Cup, Chile played attractive attacking football, drawing all three group matches — 2–2 vs Italy, 1–1 vs Austria, and 1–1 vs Cameroon — to advance to the Round of 16. There, they were eliminated 4–1 by Brazil.
The 1998 campaign restored Chile’s global reputation, remembered for Salas and Zamorano’s brilliance and the team’s spirited, offensive style.