As the US prepares to host World Cup 2026 under a cloud of geopolitical tension, we look back at US 1994 — a tournament plagued by similar doubts that went on to become the highest-attended World Cup in history. Photo: AFP
There are some very real concerns regarding the Fifa World Cup 2026 hosts next month due to the current US geopolitical climate.
There were similar anxieties in 1994, especially with regard to the interest and participation of US citizens, but those worries turned out to be unfounded. The 1994 event remains the highest-attended World Cup with a near-average of 69 000 supporters in attendance per game, despite the apparent lack of popularity of the sport in the States.
Before the 1994 event, there had been major political changes around the globe. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union saw Russia participate for the first time at the event. A unified Germany also made their first appearance at the event since 1938.
After the cynical defensive play that characterised the 1990 event, FIFA introduced the three-point system for this tournament and changed the backpass rule to encourage a more attacking playstyle, while also relaxing the offside rule.
