Wynalda, Balboa Reflect on 1994 Reunion and USA's World Cup Opener

As the United States men's national team prepares to face Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, two icons from the 1994 squad, Eric Wynalda and Marcelo Balboa, spoke to FIFA about the team's recent reunion and the importance of setting an early tone on home soil.

1994 Reunion: A Long-Awaited Gathering

For the first time in three decades, the entire 1994 U.S. World Cup team came together. Wynalda described the reunion as "wonderful," noting that it had been 30 years since they were all in the same room. "It was a chance to talk to the guys and wish them well and let them know that we had their back," he said. Balboa echoed the sentiment, calling it "awesome" to see teammates he hadn't seen in over 20 years.

The Galvanizing Effect of Wynalda's Free Kick

The 1994 tournament marked the first time the World Cup was staged in the United States. After losing all three matches at Italy 1990, the U.S. had not earned a point since their historic victory over England in 1950. In their opener against Switzerland at the Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan, the U.S. fell behind to a Georges Bregy goal. Just before halftime, John Harkes was fouled 30 yards from goal, and Wynalda curled a stunning free kick into the top corner. That goal ignited the crowd and the nation, giving the team confidence to defeat Colombia and advance to the knockout stage.

Comparing Eras: From Uncertainty to Experience

Wynalda reflected on the uncertainty of 1994: "We didn't know what to expect... we didn't know how our country would respond to us and we didn't know how we were going to play." He recalled a pre-World Cup friendly against Mexico at the Rose Bowl, where 90% of the fans were Mexican and booing the U.S. team. "When we beat them, I think it changed the direction of a lot of people's thought processes," Wynalda said. "If they can handle that, then they can handle anything." Balboa noted that in 1992, US Soccer invested in full-time contracts, allowing the team to train together for two years. "We had seven guys on the field against Colombia that did not have a club team for a year and a half," he said. In contrast, the current squad features players from top clubs like Juventus and AC Milan. "We feel good about the foundation we laid in 1994 in introducing the World Cup to the United States," Balboa added.

Looking Ahead to Paraguay

Wynalda assessed the upcoming match: "Paraguay have incurred some injuries so they will have to change their game-plan a little bit. Our team is pretty much set. I think we know what we want to do and how we want to do it. We also have the good fortune of playing against Paraguay recently." The U.S. will face Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, with hopes of replicating the spark that Wynalda provided three decades ago.