2002 FA Cup Final Arsenal were appearing in the final of the FA Cup for the fifteenth time, and for the second consecutive year. They had won the cup seven times previously (in 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993 and 1998) and were beaten in the final seven times, the most recent in last season's showpiece event. By comparison, Chelsea were making their seventh appearance in a FA Cup final. The club won the cup three times (1970, 1997 and 2000) and lost the same number of finals (1915, 1967 and 1994). Arsenal and Chelsea had previously met fourteen times in the FA Cup,
1999 FA Cup Final the Club World Championship at the group stage after losing to hosts Vasco da Gama and drawing with Mexican club Necaxa, their only victory coming against Australian representatives South Melbourne. Their misery was compounded by the suggestion from FIFA that their participation in the competition would have no bearing on the vote to host the 2006 World Cup, which was ultimately won by the German Football Association. 1999 FA Cup Final The 1999 FA Cup Final was a football match that took place on 22 May 1999 at the old Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the winner of the 1998–99