USA's World Cup 2026 Run Echoes 1994 Success
Short overview
The United States reached the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, mirroring their 1994 performance. A BBC podcast revisits the 1994 tournament, featuring key figures like Eric Wynalda and Alan Rothenberg, and explores how that event transformed American soccer.
The United States have advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, matching their achievement from the last time they hosted the tournament in 1994. The US secured their place with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California.
Comparing 2026 and 1994
In a special episode of the BBC World Service podcast More than the Score, host Lee James examines the current US team's performance alongside the historic 1994 World Cup. He speaks with Kerith Gabriel, sports editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer, about the 2026 campaign. The episode also revisits the 1994 tournament through interviews with those who shaped it.
Key Figures from 1994
James reflects on the 1994 World Cup with several key participants: Eric Wynalda, who scored the USA's first goal of that tournament; Sunday Oliseh of Nigeria, who made their World Cup debut; and Ray Houghton, who scored for the Republic of Ireland. The episode also features Alan Rothenberg, former head of US Soccer and the organizing committee for the 1994 World Cup.
The Transformation of American Soccer
Rothenberg reveals how organizers overcame skepticism from the American public and the global football community to produce what became the highest-attended and most lucrative World Cup in history at that time. The 1994 tournament is remembered as a turning point for soccer in the United States, paving the way for the sport's growth.
The episode, titled "USA 94 and a tale of two penalties," explores the narrative of two missed penalties and the events that unfolded between them, framing the 1994 World Cup as an American dream realized.
About the Podcast
More than the Score offers coverage beyond the men's football World Cup, focusing on new teams, standout stars, trends, and fandoms that statistics alone cannot capture. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the BBC World Service podcast promises in-depth analysis from the group stages through to the final. Listeners can search for More than the Score wherever they get their BBC podcasts.
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