FACT BOOK
Use these interesting facts and figures from around the world
and the world of soccer to help inspire your soccer season.
1994 USA
The Most Successful World Cup EVER!
In 1994 the World Cup came to the United States for the first time. At the
time the USA was only the second country, the other being Mexico, to
host a World Cup outside of South America or Europe.
Despite hesitations by FIFA to hold a World Cup in America because its
lack of a professional soccer league, many attendance records were
broken. Both the average attendance of 69,000 and total attendance of
3.6 million were record breakers. To give you a perspective, MLB and
NBA had average attendances of 31,256 and 16,727 respectively in 1994.
FIFA hoped that by staging the world’s most prestigious football (soccer)
tournament in the USA, it would lead to America’s growth of interest
in the sport. As part of a deal to get FIFA to bring the World Cup to the
United States, the MLS was formed in 1993 and played its first season
1996 with 10 teams.
This World Cup was the first in which three points were awarded for a
win instead of two. FIFA instituted this feature to encourage attacking
football after the defensive display of many teams at Italia ‘90 which
saw the lowest goals per game average in World Cup history at 2.21.
The first World Cup match ever played indoors was at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, USA on 06/18/1994, in a match between USA and Swit zerland. Construction was needed to create a real grass playing field for
the World Cup matches.
The first World Cup final decided on penalty shoot-out was the 1994
Final in which Brazil beat Italy 3:2 on penalties after the match finished
in a 0:0 tie.
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INTERESTING FACTS
The first digital cameras that were offered in stores to consumers that
worked with a home computer via a serial cable like all digital cameras
today were released in 1994 by apple and Kodak. The camera phone has
since changed the way we capture and share memories.
South Africa host of 2010 world cup held its first interracial national election
on on April 29th 1994. Nelson Mandela was elected President on May 10th
thus becoming the first Black President in South African History. 14 years
later The United Sates elected Barack Obama to be its first Black President.
The Internet was just beginning to be used for commercial use in 1994.
Many firsts during the year included the first internet banner advertising,
you could order pizza from Pizza Hut online, and the first internet shopping
websites arrived. Oh how the times have changed!
The cost of living was far less expensive compared to today’s standards.
A gallon of gas was only $1.09 compared to the 3.49 average in 2008. A
movie ticket was only $4.08 in 1994.
Men’s National Team – With rankings of 13th in the official FIFA World
Rankings (as of May. 1st 2014) and 1st in CONCACAF, the men’s national
team is receiving global attention. Its best finish in a World Cup was the
inaugural 1930
1994 saw the death of former President of the Unites States, Richard M.
Nixon. He was the 37th President and was the only president ever to
resign from office.
Colombian player Andreas Escobar was killed by a soccer fan soon after
he returned home from the US in 94. Colombia was one of the favorites, and
their early exit shocked the Colombian people. Escobar scored a clear
own goal in their loss to USA in a crucial first round game on 22nd June.
Two weeks later, he was shot dead by an angry fan in his home town.
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SOCCER FACTS
National Colors: White shirt, white shorts, white socks, with red and
blue trim.
Best World Cup Finish: Finished 3rd in the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay.
Quarter Finalist: 2002. Lost to Germany 1-0
CONCACAF Champions: 1991, 2002, 2005, 2007 & 2013
Most Capped Player: Cobi Jones - 164
Most Capped Active Player: Landon Donovan - 156
Top Scorer: Landon Donovan - 57
Top Stadium: The National Team does not play its game in one specific
stadium as many countries do. RFK Stadium in Washington DC would be
considered their home on the east coast and the Home Depot Center in
Los Angeles is their west coast home.
Top League: Major League Soccer
Top Teams: DC United (4 championships), LA Galaxy(4), Houston Dynamo
Top Modern Players: Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Robbie Keane
Other Facts: Women’s National Team - team is ranked #1 in the world by
FIFA. The team has won two Women’s World Cups, (1991, 1999). Arguably
their most influential and memorable victory came in the 1999 World Cup
when they beat the Chinese 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
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WORLD CUP RESULTS
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WORLD CUP RESULTS
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USA