By the mid-1980s, professional soccer in America had collapsed and the U.S. Men’s National Team hadn’t reached a World Cup in decades. But with the sport seemingly at its lowest point, the country made a bold and unlikely move: bidding to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This story looks at the audacious gamble that helped bring soccer back from the brink and set the stage for a new era in America.
Chapters:
00:00 Soccer Was Dead in America
03:45 The U.S. Makes a World Cup Moonshot
07:00 America Wins the 1994 World Cup Bid
10:00 The Trinidad Miracle
13:00 Italia ’90 Reality Check
20:00 Building World Cup ’94 From Scratch
24:30 The Indoor Stadium Gamble
27:00 Building Team USA
30:30 The Final Push to Sell Soccer
34:30 World Cup ’94 Begins
39:00 The U.S. Shocks Colombia
41:00 USA vs Brazil on the Fourth of July
42:00 Soccer Finally Arrives in America
About Soccer’s American Dream:
An in-depth look at how soccer carved out its place in America—told through the pivotal moments, unlikely breakthroughs, and untold stories that shaped the sport across generations, from its fragile early days to the modern era.
#worldcup #soccer #fifa
Follow VICE TV:
Website | https://www.vicetv.com
Channel Finder | https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/channel-finder
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/vicetv
Twitter | https://x.com/vicetv
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vicetv
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@viceontv
I am sure there is nothing better for a national team than using equipment from K-Mart.
vice supports trump clearly
soccer?? lmao so embarrassing
I am surprised such a good documentary production is not getting views. For some reason Vice never shows up on my feed
❤🔥
Football. Or as Americans call it "change the goddamn channel".
I m looking ep. 2 where is number 1?
I was at USA-Italy in 1990. The international press predicted it would be like feeding Christians to the lions. By the end, the partisan Italian crowd in Rome's Olympic Stadium was applauding the Americans' effort and tenacity.
The NFL player posing with the U.S. soccer team at the 14-minute mark of your video is Marcus Allen, not OJ Simpson.
Very well done, Vice. WC94 turned me on to soccer, and it was really the only sport I played through college. My childhood would’ve been vastly different if it weren’t for it.
There are many reasons why we're not respected in the beautiful game around the world. But the main reason is because our own citizens (sometimes) go out of their way to to hate on it. As a hardcore fan of the sport, it's hard to see it not flourish the way it does around the world. I have to be honest though, I'd rather not have "casual fans" involved…because they're going to dismiss it as soon as the World Cup is over with.
I feel like they won't understand how just getting to a quarter final (please let us get that far) is actually a win in itself. They're going to assume we should win it outright. I'm not a religious person at all, but I'm praying for a semi-final run like South Korea did in 2002. All I've ever wanted is for USMNT to be respected in the game, but my ultimate fear is crashing out in the Group Stage more than anything. Us true fans are getting filled with more and more anxiety every damn day.
You put Hispanics to play in U.S. soccer it will change the game in the U.S. little by little.
In Germany the youth training facilities are like in the NFL for youth players not personal players
World cup won't work in U.S.A. it will in Mexico, Canada and etc. Countries but not here the U.S.A. is behind change rules and etc.
Is futbol
14:00 That's Marcus Allen, not OJ. My goodness.
These type of people are still in charge or US soccer, its legit madness
I definitely think Brazil hit his head on purpose. That hit looks very intentional
I gotta say the animations of the boys celebrating the world cup at @8:10 is super cute 🥹👉👈
My god why can’t we do the shirtless beach front rap vid ad now that would be so iconic
This group of usa players crawled to team use 2026 can run.. Amazing what these guys went through.
I remember watching in 94 as a kid in Orange County where the US Men's team was based out of and told myself when they return again I'm gonna go. Sadly, the World Cup has now become a soulless husk of what it once was
I was ten years old during the 94 World Cup and I had no idea America hosted the World Cup in 94 until watching this.
How about the TRUTH: there was a need for stars at 94 cup and thats how/why Maradona was used to return to NT in order to entice ticket sales. Then, get rid of him so Brazilian President could make certain Brazil would win and promote Argentine football President as third in command of FIFA for his part in selling out his country.
As Mex the real reason behind the USA soccer rivalry is because we know they're the best at everything, we are well aware of their struggles and how far they're now. Great documentary.
4:24 the. British. Named. It. SOCCER. Ffs.
Soccer?
Unbelievable series here — kudos to yall!
Came within 1 inch of Tying Italy .
I loved that elbow on the face 😆😆
Losers then. Losers today.
36:50 Colombia were seen as a "dark horse" who could surprise people but favourites? No chance.
Football is life, for the young kids who are watching this, fast forward to 2017, and it's true poetry in Trinidad.
I didnt see OJ comin