Tony Meola recalls USA-Brazil World Cup clash on Fourth of July

Former United States captain and goalkeeper Tony Meola has shared his memories of one of the most iconic matches in American soccer history: the Round of 16 clash between the USA and Brazil at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, played on the Fourth of July. In an interview with FIFA, Meola discussed the unique atmosphere of playing a World Cup on home soil, the confidence the team carried into the game, and a memorable flight home with actor Robin Williams.

A Historic Match on Independence Day

The match took place on July 4, 1994, at Stanford Stadium in front of more than 84,000 fans. The United States, despite losing star midfielder Tab Ramos to a brutal foul, held the mighty Brazilian side for 72 minutes before Bebeto scored the winning goal. Although the result dampened the Fourth of July celebrations, the performance earned the respect of the global soccer community and ignited a new wave of optimism for the sport in the United States. Fans dressed in red, white, and blue filled the stadium, bars, and living rooms across the country, fueling a sense that soccer had a future in America.

Playing at Home: A Unique Experience

Meola, who participated in three World Cups, emphasized the distinct feeling of playing a World Cup at home. “It's a different atmosphere, it's more familiar,” he said. “A lot of the [current USA team] play in Europe and some of them weren't born in the United States but they have been here enough to know their way around. You just feel more comfortable being at home.” He noted that in the U.S., there is often a narrative about away teams having as many fans as the home team due to the country's demographic makeup, but that playing at home brings both opportunity and weight. “You feel the weight of the games on your shoulders to win games, but you also feel the weight of the sport because you impact it and will bring new fans into the game.”

Confidence and Preparation

Meola recalled that the 1994 team, much like the current squad, had been together for four years. However, unlike today's players who feature for top European clubs, the 1994 team had to constantly prove they could compete at the highest level. “We were relatively new to the game with regards to international football even though there was a history in the sport [in the States] and you could just see it growing every single day,” he said. The team's opponent was not known until the final group matches were played. “There was Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands... it was all changing [about who our opponents would be] and it had to do with the result that was taking place in Washington DC between Mexico and Italy. We were watching the game and it's one of those situations where your opponent is changing in real time. There is no real preparing for anything until the game is over. So we got drawn with Brazil.”

Romario's Respect

Meola shared a telling anecdote about Brazilian legend Romario. “I did a documentary around six months ago around Romario. A TV crew came to the US and they wanted me to watch a video and react to it. It was an interview with Romario and he was asked who was the toughest opponent you played in 1994 and he said by far it was the US. I was thinking, 'I'm not really into consolation prizes but I thought it was pretty telling that he recognised that.'” Meola later played for former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira at the MetroStars in Major League Soccer. Parreira told Meola, “My God you gave us headaches...”

A New Era for U.S. Soccer

The 1994 World Cup marked a turning point for soccer in the United States, leading to the establishment of Major League Soccer and a steady growth in the sport's popularity. Meola's reflections come ahead of the 250th anniversary match in Philadelphia between Paraguay and France, a city where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. The match serves as a reminder of how far American soccer has come since that memorable Fourth of July in 1994.