Volta
Culture17 June – 17 July 1994

1994 FIFA World Cup United States

Held in football’s backwater, the United States, it drew the highest average crowds in World Cup history. The final was decided on penalties for the first time, Brazil beating Italy for a fourth title.

President and Mrs Clinton watch the opening match, Germany v Bolivia, at Soldier Field, Chicago, 17 June 1994
President and Mrs Clinton watch the opening match, Germany v Bolivia, at Soldier Field, Chicago, 17 June 1994

William J. Clinton Presidential Library, National Archives · Public domain · Source

The tournament was held in the United States from 17 June to 17 July 1994. The country did not yet have a professional league, yet average attendance of nearly 69,000 a match remains a World Cup record. From this tournament a group-stage win earned three points. South Korea drew 2–2 with Spain and 0–0 with Bolivia and lost 2–3 to Germany. Colombia’s Andrés Escobar, who scored an own goal against the United States, was shot dead after returning home. In the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on 17 July, Brazil and Italy drew 0–0 and Brazil won the first penalty shoot-out in a final 3–2, Roberto Baggio blazing the last kick over the bar.

Show on the map

The map in 1994

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

States and rulers at the time
United States · host — President Bill Clinton

People

  • Diego Maradona1960 – 2020

    participant · Argentine footballer who captained his country to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, scoring both the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century” against England in the quarter-final

Before and after

Earlier
1993 First North Korean Nuclear Crisis
Later
1996 1996 Atlanta Olympics

Themes that include this event

  • FIFA World Cup1904 – 2026

    From the founding of FIFA to the 48-team tournament in North America — the football championship that has gathered the world every four years since Uruguay 1930