The influence of the World Cup on a nation with strong professional leagues and extensive youth programs might not be immediately apparent this time.
Cle Kooiman and Thomas Dooley celebrate a 2-1 victory over Colombia during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. (Christian Liewig/TempSport/Corbis/Getty Images)
Before the United States hosted its first World Cup, the country needed a second professional soccer league. In the late 1980s, prior to FIFA awarding the U.S. the 1994 World Cup, American officials pledged to FIFA that they would establish a professional league. This promise was crucial in securing the opportunity to host the international event.
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