The 2026 World Cup has put the footballing world’s eyes on North America, with games happening every day across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
But while Mexico has a long and storied relationship with the tournament and Canada is making its debut, the World Cup arrived in the U.S. for the first time 32 years ago and left no one indifferent.
From the Hollywood-star-studded opening ceremonies and matches to the neon-bright football kits under the Los Angeles sun, the 1994 debut as World Cup hosts left a myriad of iconic moments worth revisiting.
1. Diana Ross’s missed penalty
It’s fair to say that there was little, if any, football culture in the U.S. previous to USA 94. Few moments exemplify that more than when singer and actress Diana Ross had to take a mock penalty as part of her act during the tournament’s opening ceremony, and missed spectacularly.
