Look Back To 1998: What Happened That Year

The Good Friday Agreement, a World Cup sending off nobody forgave, and Furby.

Here's 1998 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1998

• Cher's 'Believe' was Christmas number one and the best-selling single of the year, built on the vocal effect that defined the next decade of pop.
• The Spice Girls' run of Christmas number ones ended, though they remained enormous.
• 'Three Lions 98' returned to number one for the World Cup.
• Robbie Williams' 'Angels' had been released at the end of 1997 and was inescapable throughout 1998.
• Massive Attack's 'Mezzanine' and Air's 'Moon Safari' defined the year's albums for anybody over twenty-five.

In the news in 1998

• The Good Friday Agreement was signed on 10 April.
• The Omagh bombing in August killed twenty-nine people, the deadliest single attack of the Troubles.
• Google was founded in September.
• The Human Rights Act was passed, incorporating the European Convention into UK law.
• The Scotland Act and Government of Wales Act established the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.
• The euro was agreed for launch the following January, without the UK.

On screen in 1998

• Titanic dominated cinemas and the Oscars.
• Saving Private Ryan and The Truman Show were the other films of the year.
• SM:TV Live began on ITV in August with Ant, Dec and Cat Deeley.
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? began in September and became the biggest quiz show in the world.
• Sex and the City began in America.

In sport in 1998

• France won the World Cup on home soil. England went out to Argentina on penalties after David Beckham's sending off, and he spent a year being vilified for it.
• Michael Owen's goal against Argentina is one of the most replayed in English football.
• Arsenal won the Premier League and FA Cup double under Arsene Wenger.
• Mark O'Meara won both the Masters and the Open.
• The Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur.

Everyday life in 1998

• Furby arrived and sold in enormous numbers, with resale prices well above retail before Christmas.
• The Coca-Cola yo-yo craze swept playgrounds and was banned from most of them.
• Internet access was spreading, and AOL discs were arriving with every magazine.
• The Nokia 5110 and its swappable covers were everywhere.
• Opal Fruits were renamed Starburst.

If you were born in 1998

• Anyone born in 1998 arrived the same year Google was founded and the Good Friday Agreement was signed.
• They have never known Northern Ireland before the agreement, which is worth saying out loud.
• Anyone born in 1998 turns 30 in 2028, 40 in 2038, 50 in 2048, 60 in 2058 and 70 in 2068.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1999
• Look back to 1997
• Look back to 1996
• Look back to 1995
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• 1990s party playlist
• 90s kids' TV shows
• 90s quiz questions
• Toys of the 80s and 90s
• Video shops and late fees
• Saturday morning TV
• Phones before mobiles
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the Christmas number one in 1998?

'Believe' by Cher, which was also the best-selling single of the year and popularised the pitch-correction vocal effect used across pop for the next decade.

What happened to David Beckham at the 1998 World Cup?

He was sent off against Argentina for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost on penalties and Beckham was subjected to sustained abuse for the following year.

How old is someone born in 1998?

Subtract 1998 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2038, 50 in 2048, 60 in 2058 and 70 in 2068.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.