The following are the football (soccer) events of the year 2002 throughout the world.
Events
8 January – MLS contracts league down to ten clubs by eliminating its two Florida franchises: Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion. 13 February – Dick Advocaat is reinstated as the manager of the Netherlands, as the successor of the failing Louis van Gaal, with a 1–1 draw in a friendly against England in Amsterdam. The 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan is held from 31 May to 30 June in South Korea and Japan. Brazil wins its fifth title, defeating Germany 2–0 in the final. Surprisingly, Turkey and host nation South Korea take 3rd and 4th. This is the first time a World Cup is held in Asia and by two countries simultaneously. UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid beats Bayer Leverkusen 2–1 in the final. This was Real Madrid's 9th European Cup. UEFA Cup: Feyenoord wins 3–2 in the final against Borussia Dortmund, winning the cup for the second time. European Super Cup: Real Madrid wins 3–1 over Feyenoord, winning the cup for the first time. Scotland – Scottish Premier League: Celtic win the league with an overall points tally of 103, a new record. Copa Libertadores 2002: Olimpia of Paraguay wins the final on a penalty shootout (4–2) against São Caetano of Brazil. England – FA Cup: Arsenal wins 2–0 over Chelsea. Asian Champions Cup – Suwon Samsung Bluewings retain the Asian Champions Cup, defeating fellow South Korean club Anyang LG Cheetahs 4–2 on penalties. They also retained the Asian Super Cup. May – Arsenal wins The Double 31 August – Real Madrid signs Inter Milan's World Cup winner Ronaldo with a transfer fee of €45 million. 1 October – Gerard van der Lem is named manager of the Saudi Arabia national football team. 3 December – Real Madrid wins the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo, Japan for the third time, by defeating Paraguay's Olimpia Asunción: 2–0.
Winners of national club championship
Asia
: Pro League – Persepolis Azadegan League – Sanat Naft Hazfi Cup – Esteghlal – Júbilo Iwata – Al-Ittihad – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma – Osotspa M-150
Europe
Croatia – NK Zagreb
Denmark – Brøndby
England – Arsenal
France – Lyon
Germany – Borussia Dortmund
Iceland – KR
Ireland – Shelbourne
Italy – Juventus
Netherlands
Eredivisie – Ajax
Eerste Divisie – Zwolle
Portugal – Sporting CP
Russia – Lokomotiv Moscow
Scotland – Celtic
Spain
La Liga – Valencia
Copa del Rey – Deportivo La Coruña
Sweden: for fuller coverage, see: 2002 in Swedish football
Allsvenskan and Svenska Cupen – Djurgården
Turkey – Galatasaray
Ukraine – Shakhtar Donetsk
FR Yugoslavia – Partizan
North and Central America
– Ottawa Wizards (CPSL)
Verano 2002 – Club América
Apertura 2002 – Club Toluca
– Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
South America
Argentina: 2001–02 Clausura – River Plate 2002–03 Apertura – Independiente Bolivia – Bolívar Brazil – Santos Ecuador – Emelec Paraguay – Libertad Uruguay – Nacional
International tournaments
African Cup of Nations in Mali (19 January – 13 February 2002)
FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan (31 May – 30 June 2002)