The U.S. Men’s National Team’s 1994 season was historic, as the United States hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Under coach Bora Milutinović, the team exceeded expectations by advancing from a tough group.

They opened with a 1–1 draw against Switzerland, then earned a famous 2–1 win over Colombia, highlighted by Earnie Stewart’s goal and an own goal by Andrés Escobar. A 1–0 loss to Romania still saw the U.S. reach the Round of 16, where they battled bravely before falling 1–0 to Brazil.

Led by Tony Meola, Alexi Lalas, Tab Ramos, and Cobi Jones, the 1994 squad sparked a surge in soccer’s popularity across the U.S.