1994 World Cup Fuels U.S. Soccer Expansion Ahead of 2026

Former players, fans and organizers recall how the 1994 World Cup match in the Bay Area laid the groundwork for today’s U.S. soccer landscape.  Cobi Jones said, “It was fantastic to see the turnout for all of these games and to see how much support we got from our home fans,” while stadium upgrades at Stanford and massive crowds demonstrated a new appetite for the sport.

In a Reuters interview, Jones explained that the tournament delivered Major League Soccer and sparked broader public understanding of soccer.  He noted, “In 1994 the World Cup was more of an ‘event’, it was an oddity here within the U.S… Now you have a good understanding by the American public of this tournament.”  Jones expects the 2026 edition to further unlock financial and commercial opportunities for the game in the United States.