The World Cup’s influence in a nation with established professional and youth soccer leagues may not be immediately evident this time. Although the global event is a significant milestone, its effects are more nuanced in countries like the United States.
Cle Kooiman and Thomas Dooley celebrate a 2-1 victory over Colombia during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Prior to hosting its first World Cup, the U.S. needed to establish a second professional soccer league. In the late 1980s, American soccer officials reassured FIFA by committing to launch a professional league, a prerequisite for hosting the 1994 tournament.