How great was World Cup USA 1994 — and did it change football forever?In a special change of direction for By Far The Greatest Team, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney step away from ranking a club or national team to debate the greatness of an entire tournament: World Cup USA 1994.And who better to guide us through it than legendary US soccer writer Michael Lewis, a journalist who has covered World Cups since 1986 and witnessed first-hand the rise, fall and rebirth of soccer in America.The 1994 World Cup arrived in the United States surrounded by scepticism. Could a country obsessed with NFL, baseball and basketball really host football’s greatest tournament? Would American crowds understand it? Would the world embrace a World Cup played in giant stadiums, under summer heat, in a nation still searching for its soccer identity?The answer, as history now shows, was far bigger than anyone expected.This episode explores how USA 94 became one of the most important World Cups in modern football history. From record-breaking attendances and packed stadiums to the commercial explosion that followed, the tournament helped prove that soccer could work in America. It laid the foundations for Major League Soccer, changed perceptions of the sport in the United States, and gave FIFA a glimpse of football’s huge commercial future.But this was not just a business story. USA 94 gave us unforgettable football drama: Brazil’s fourth World Cup triumph, Romário and Bebeto, Roberto Baggio’s penalty heartbreak, Bulgaria’s golden run, Ireland shocking Italy, Maradona’s failed drugs test, the tragedy of Andrés Escobar, and a tournament that mixed sunshine, spectacle, controversy and genuine sporting greatness.Graham, Jamie and Michael debate whether USA 1994 deserves to be remembered as a great World Cup, a commercially important World Cup, or one of the true turning points in football history.And, of course, it all ends with the big question:Where does World Cup USA 1994 rank in the Greatness Index of World Cup finals?TakeawaysUSA 94 changed soccer in America The tournament helped shift soccer from a niche sport in the United States into something with mainstream potential.It helped create Major League Soccer The success of the World Cup directly contributed to the launch of MLS in 1996, giving American soccer a professional foundation.It proved football could sell in the US Huge crowds, major sponsorships and global attention showed FIFA the commercial power of the American market.The tournament was packed with iconic moments From Baggio’s missed penalty to Maradona’s exit, Brazil’s triumph and Bulgaria’s shock run, USA 94 delivered unforgettable stories.Its legacy is still being felt today With the World Cup returning to North America in 2026, the shadow of 1994 still hangs over the future of football in the United States.If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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