1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 World Cup: Hosted solely by the United States, where Brazil won its fourth title in the first penalty shootout final.
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. Brazil won the tournament, defeating Italy in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in the first World Cup final decided by penalties.
Quick Facts
- Host
- Mexico (co-host nation, alongside USA and Canada)
- Manager
- Bora Milutinovic
- Group
- Group A (Italy, Nigeria, Ireland)
- Key player
- Luis García (striker)
- Goalkeeper
- Hugo Sánchez
- Result
- Round of 16 – lost 3–4 to Bulgaria
- Defining match
- Mexico 2–1 Italy (Group Stage)
Lore & Background
The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988, in a vote held in Zurich. Three nations bid: the United States, Brazil, and Morocco. The U.S. bid was seen as the favorite and was prepared in response to losing the right to be the replacement host for the 1986 tournament. FIFA imposed a condition that a professional soccer league be created, leading to Major League Soccer, founded in 1993 and beginning operation in 1996. The tournament broke attendance records with 3,587,538 total and an average of 68,991 per game, unsurpassed until the 48-team 2026 World Cup.
Reader's Guide
The tournament featured 24 teams, including three debutants: Greece, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. Russia appeared as a separate nation for the first time, and a unified Germany took part for the first time since 1938. The defending champion was Germany, but it was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bulgaria. The tournament was the first to award three points for a win instead of two and the first with the back-pass rule, resulting in an average of 2.71 goals per match.
Did You Know?
- The United States was the sole host of the 1994 World Cup; Mexico was not a co-host.
- Hugo Sánchez was a striker, not a goalkeeper; the actual goalkeeper for Mexico in 1994 was Jorge Campos.
- The Pontiac Silverdome was the first indoor stadium used in a World Cup.
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