U.S. 1994 World Cup Veterans Reflect on Tournament Legacy Ahead of 2026
Former United States players Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, John Harkes and Marcelo Balboa met to recall their participation in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the first hosted by the United States. The squad advanced from the group stage after a 2-1 victory over Colombia before elimination by Brazil in the round of 16.
Coach Bora Milutinović, who had previously led Costa Rica to the round of 16 and Mexico to the quarterfinals, guided the team through an earlier Gold Cup title in 1991. The players described initial resistance to his methods that eased after that tournament success, noting that several squad members lacked club contracts and trained together daily without a domestic professional league in place.
The group-stage win over Colombia occurred at the Rose Bowl before a large crowd and followed an earlier draw with Switzerland. The round-of-16 match against Brazil on July 4 ended after an injury to Tab Ramos and a 72nd-minute goal by Bebeto, leaving the United States with ten players on the field.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup returns to North American venues from June 11 to July 19, with the final scheduled at New York New Jersey Stadium. The veterans expressed hope that the current national team can advance further than the quarterfinal reached in 2002.
