Remembering 1994
The 2026 World Cup will make its way back to the United States, rekindling the excitement that first surged three decades ago when the tournament landed on American soil.
The 1994 edition proved to be a watershed moment, drawing record crowds and sparking a surge in youth participation that eventually led to the launch of Major League Soccer two years later. Wayne Novick, who attended the 1994 World Cup, had predicted that the event would ignite a lasting interest in soccer across the nation, a forecast that has materialized as the sport’s popularity has grown. His wife, Michelle Novick, recalls the electric atmosphere and the way the tournament brought together strangers who became friends.
This time around, the competition will feature 48 nations, a dozen more than any previous tournament, and the demand for tickets has already pushed prices into the hundreds of dollars for many matches.
Fans such as Shane Latham are securing a spot in Santa Clara, California, thanks to a family connection with Adidas, while Bryan Weigel has already booked seats to watch the United States take on Australia in Seattle on June 19. Andrew Staroska plans to travel for two games, including Japan versus the Netherlands and Japan versus Sweden, and Ben Watson will be at the first U.S. match against Paraguay, a opportunity made possible by his father's long‑standing ties to the sport. Calum Latham, Shane's brother, will also be at the Santa Clara match, while Sophie, a longtime friend of the family, will be cheering from the stands. Lucy Weigel, Bryan's daughter, will accompany her father to the Seattle game, adding a generational touch to the experience. Ed Watson, Ben's father, will travel with him, sharing stories of the 1994 tournament. Michael Muncy and Brandon Knox, both avid supporters, have secured additional tickets for friends who could not obtain official passes.
Local supporters are organizing watch parties at venues like the Dayton Beer Company, where the American Outlaws fan club will gather to cheer on the team, and they are also coordinating travel through schools such as West Carrollton High School, the University of Dayton, and Catholic Central High School, as well as the professional club FC Cincinnati.
As the countdown continues, the blend of nostalgia and new opportunities promises to deepen soccer’s foothold across the country, from Pontiac and Detroit in Michigan to Cincinnati and Liberty Township in Ohio, as communities rally around the world’s biggest football festival.