Ahead of this summer's competition in Russia, bwfc.co.uk gets in the mood by reviewing all former editions of the biggest tournament in football and the World Cup Wanderers who were in action!
With the opening game of the 2018 World Cup taking place on Thursday, South Korea and Japan 2002 is next up in our preview series with a record 16 past, present and future Wanderers players representing their nations on the biggest stage!
EMILE HESKEY
England
Appearances: 5
Goals: 1
Stage reached: Quarter-finals
Having established himself as first-choice for England following Alan Shearer's international retirement, Emile Heskey was in the form of his career in the early-noughties as he partnered Michael Owen upfront for both club and country.
Famously scoring in the Three Lions' 5-1 victory over Germany in qualifying, the striker was an ever-present in South Korea and Japan despite starting the tournament in an unfamiliar left-wing position.
With Darius Vassell joining Owen in attack, England opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Sweden as Sol Campbell's header was cancelled out by Niclas Alexandersson.
Heskey was restored upfront for the Three Lions' next match against Argentina as David Beckham's penalty clinched a 1-0 win to claim revenge for their 1998 World Cup exit on penalties.
Qualifying for the knock-out stages courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Nigeria, the striker scored his only goal of the tournament in England's round-of-16 clash with Denmark as additional goals from Rio Ferdinand and Owen claimed a 3-0 win.
The Three Lions met Brazil in the round-of-16 but despite taking the lead through Owen, goals either side of the interval from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho saw them suffer a 2-1 defeat to the eventual winners to exit the competition.
JASON MCATEER
Republic of Ireland
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16
ANDY O'BRIEN
Republic of Ireland
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16
With Jason McAteer struggling with injury and Andy O'Brien left unused throughout the tournament, the duo endured mixed emotions at the 2002 World Cup with the Republic of Ireland desperately unlucky to suffer a second round exit.
The former started their opening game against Cameroon but was forced off at half-time as Matt Holland cancelled out Patrick M'Boma's opener in a 1-1 draw, before both players watched on from the sidelines as the Irish drew 1-1 with Germany in their second outing.
McAteer returned prematurely as a late substitute in their final group game as goals from Robbie Keane, Gary Breen and Damien Duff clinched a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia to progress in the competition.
Again unused for their round-of-16 clash with Spain, both players were unable to prevent the Boys in Green from suffering a penalty shootout exit after Robbie Keane's 90th minute had forced extra-time following Fernando Morientes' early opener.
YOURI DJORKAEFF
France
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages
VINCENT CANDELA
France
Appearances: 2
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages
Heading into the tournament as reigning champions, Youri Djorkaeff, Vincent Candela and France all endured a tournament to forget as Les Bleus suffered a shock group-stage exit in 2002.
The former started the opening game of the tournament as Papa Bouba Diop's solitary goal was enough to earn Senegal a shock 1-0 win.
Candela was introduced as an early enforced change in the French's second outing against Uruguay with Djorkaeff left unused as the two nations fought out a 0-0 draw.
Needing to beat Denmark to stand any chance of staying in the competition, Candela retained his place as goals from Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson saw the Danes' take a 2-0 lead.
Djorkaeff was brought on in the dying embers of the game but France were unable to produce a late comeback as they were left to catch an early flight home.
EL HADJI DIOUF
Senegal
Appearances: 5
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Quarter-finals
KHALILOU FADIGA
Senegal
Appearances: 4
Goals: 1
Stage reached: Quarter-finals
With Senegal making their first ever World Cup appearance, future Wanderers duo El Hadji Diouf and Khalilou Fadiga were two of their stars of the tournament as the African nation surprised many to reach the quarter-finals.
With both players ever-presents throughout the group-stages, Diouf put in a man-of-the-match performance as he helped set up Diop's winner in their shock opening victory over France.
It was then Fadiga's turn to claim the man-of-the-match award in their next outing against Denmark as Salif Diao cancelled out an early Tomasson penalty to earn a 1-1 draw.
Facing Uruguay in their final group game, Senegal raced into a 3-0 half-time lead as Fadiga opened the scoring before Diop added a brace.
But despite Uruguay fighting back to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw thanks to Alvaro Recoba's late penalty, the point was each to see them reach the knock-out stages.
Fadiga was not involved as Senegal came from behind to beat Sweden 2-1 in their second round match as Henri Camara cancelled out Henrik Larsson's opener before striking a golden goal winner in extra-time.
However, Senegal's journey came to an end at the hands of Turkey in the quarter-finals as this time they were the victims of the golden goal as Ilhan Mansız's solitary strike saw them exit the competition.
CLAUS JENSEN
Denmark
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16
STIG TOFTING
Denmark
Appearances: 4
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16
Stig Tofting was an ever-present in midfield while Claus Jensen would only feature in the round-of-16 as Denmark lost to England in the second round in South Korea and Japan.
Late goals in either half from Tomasson saw the Danes open the tournament with a 2-1 win over Uruguay before drawing 1-1 with Senegal next time out.
Beating France to reach the round-of-16, they had no answer against the Three Lions as three first half goals saw them suffer an early exit.
FERNANDO HIERRO
Spain
Appearances: 4
Goals: 2
Stage reached: Quarter-finals
Again utilised in both midfield and defence, Fernando Hierro made his final ever World Cup finals appearances in 2002.
Captaining Spain for the tournament, he was on the scoresheet from the penalty spot late on goal in their opening game against Slovenia as goals from Raul and Juan Carlos Valeron helped them to a 3-1 win.
Lightning then struck twice in Spain's second match against Paraguay as Hierro again netted a late penalty in a 3-1 win after a Morientes brace had turned the game on its head following an early Carlos Puyol own goal.
Unused for their final group game as they beat South Africa 3-2, Hierro returned as for a tale of two penalty shoot-outs for the Spanish in the knock-out stages.
Scoring his spot-kick in both shoot-outs, Spain beat the Republic of Ireland 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw before losing 3-5 after a 0-0 draw with co-hosts South Korea as their time in Asia came to an end.
QUINTON FORTUNE
South Africa
Appearances: 3
Goals: 1
Stage reached: Group-stages
An ever-present for South Africa, Quinton Fortune's tournament started memorably as he scored a stoppage-time penalty to help earn a last gasp 2-2 draw in their opening game with Paraguay having trailed by two goals.
The midfielder put in a man-of-the-match display as they beat Slovenia 1-0 in their second outing, but was unable to prevent them exiting the competition after 3-2 losing to Spain despite twice equalising.
JAY-JAY OKOCHA
Nigeria
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages
Joining Wanderers shortly after the 2002 World Cup, Jay-Jay Okocha again impressed for Nigeria despite suffering a group-stage exit having been drawn in the "Group of Death."
Nigeria's captain and talisman for the tournament, he was unable to prevent them losing 1-0 to Argentina in their opening game as Gabriel Batistuta grabbed the only goal.
Despite Julius Aghahowa giving them the lead in their next outing against Sweden, a Henrik Larsson brace saw them lose 2-1 to suffer back-to-back defeats and confirm their exit with a game left to play.
Facing England in their final group game, Nigeria managed to pick up their first point of the tournament courtesy of a 0-0 draw.
JARED BORGETTI
Mexico
Appearances: 4
Goals: 2
Stage reached: Round-of-16
An ever-present for Mexico at the tournament, Jared Borgetti maintained his impressive international scoring rate in South Korea and Japan.
Opening the tournament with a 1-0 win over Croatia, the striker was on the scoresheet in both their 2-1 victory over Ecuador and 1-1 draw with Italy as Mexico qualified for the knock-out stages.
However, their tournament came to an end in second round as they lost 2-0 to neighbours USA.
HIDETOSHI NAKATA
Japan
Appearances: 4
Goals: 1
Stage reached: Round-of-16
AKINORI NISHIZAWA
Japan
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Round-of-16
Hidetoshi Nakata was an ever-present while Akinori Nishizawa made one appearance in the knock-out stages as co-hosts Japan reached the second round in 2002.
Drawing 2-2 with Belgium in their opening game, Junichi Inamoto's second goal of the tournament saw Japan pick up their first win with a 1-0 victory over Russia next time out.
Nakata got himself on the scoresheet in Japan's final group game, putting in a man-of-the-match performance as they beat Tunisia 2-0 to progress in the tournament.
However, their journey came to an end in their next game against Turkey as Umit Davala's solitary strike saw them lose 1-0, much to the disappointment of a passionate home crowd.
RADHI JAIDI
Tunisia
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Stage reached: Group-stages
Radhi Jaidi was an ever-present for Tunisia as they suffered a group-stage exit in 2002.
Having lost their opening game 2-0 to Russia, they picked up their only point of the tournament in their second outing courtesy of a 1-1 with Belgium.
However, a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Japan confirmed their early exit.