I would say that the pre-tourney "buzz" in 94 was less from anticipation of the soccer and more from the newness and in anticipation of the spectacle. Americans love a spectacle. That, I think, is a fact. When the Olympics were here in 84, the soccer games were very well attended. It wasn't the soccer. It was the spectacle. This year, imo, there is more attention about the soccer but perhaps less from the spectacle end of the spectrum. in addition to the politics and the war, I think all of the negative press about ticket prices, and related costs or questions about travel and visas/ICE issues also helped move the focus. For reference, I am a very short distance from SOFI. I saw USA vs Columbia in 94. I wasn't really paying too close attention or measuring the "Buzz" in 94, or in 26 (until now I guess), so take this with a grain of salt.
You make it almost sound like Poch is NOT to blame for the "buzz" being less than 94, back when you could easily get affordable tickets through multiple rounds. Kids today have no clue what it was like to be a soccer fan back then. Hopefully Fifa doesn't slay the golden goose. I think more and more fans and players are going to be turned off by what this is has become. I wouldn't be surprised if demand continues to fall in the future.
There wasn't a big buzz before the World Cup. People did get really into it though and I remember participation in rec soccer exploded after the world cup as all the people who played when they were younger got inspired to get out there again. I think 94 changed the way Americans view international soccer in a meaningful way. I hope 2026 has a fraction of the impact on the viewing public and it translates in some small part to MLS and its growth. Very jealous you got to be at that game. I was in Korea for USA Portugal though which was incredible.
It was really special. I saw the game with my (then) future wife. also got to see the 3rd place game. I was able to get free tickets (through my school) and was able to bring some of the players from my hs team that I coached LAUSD.
I was a kid but there was certainly buzz, maybe it was just my friend group since they all played sports... No I remember Lalas and Cobi Jones and others being all over TV. Is that happening right now and I'm just not seeing it?
The things people care about when a team is winning and when it's not winning are different. No cone cared that the 70s A's stars didn't get along when they were winning championships. And yet on a million losing to mediocre teams people say the problem is team chemistry. Curious!
But we haven't even got to the World Cup yet. We just put in two very good performances against two very good teams.
So then what are your expectations? I just made a thread for that here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/world-cup-2026-expectations-poll.2139014/
So the exact same expectations as every World Cup for the last 30 years. Even when we're not hosting. Even without Poch coaching. So then you're of the opinion that they should fire Poch and bring back Dave Sarachan to save some $$ for that "soccer development" that's so important to you instead of wasting it on the third most expensive coach who won't improve the outcomes for the World Cup (the only thing that matters not the previous tournaments where he failed to win trophies) at all? Okay, good to know!
The decision to hire Poch had nothing to do with me, I was skeptical from the start but at least the appointment kept the Europhiles happy. Now I'm just supporting the guy in charge. I don't know how being angry that the guy has a life outside of his job helps. Compare to Tuchel who just had England waste a friendly fielding players who aren't even in the World Cup squad.
Eddie Pope definitely was not all over marketing and advertisement. And advertisements doesn't exactly equal buzz. Most Americans were not very soccer aware at the time. And let's face it - none of this has to do with Poch.
Pope was a big part of the marketing push for my generation. I think we've matured enough that whoever the head coach is of the national team doesn't matter.. we like winners... this team needs to make some noise at this WC because we will never get a better opportunity in my lifetime or yours to push the game to an audience that doesn't consider soccer/football to be one of the big 4.
I was a kid but pre-World Cup 94 I only remember reading one article about the tournament in Sports Illustrated for Kids about how the U.S. had no chance to win it. No buzz until the actual tournament, and even then I only recall people talking about the Brazil game.
If you're remembering a marketing push involving Eddie Pope, you might be thinking of the '98 or '02 World Cup. In '94, Pope was a junior in college and still more than 2 years away from receiving his first USMNT cap.
I don’t recall much of an atmosphere here in ‘94 till the games started. We are not a host city this time around. My son’s traveling to see Germany in Huston and I have a friend flying out to watch the USA, but many of my soccer friends are just staying home because they’ve been priced out. I went to all five games here (Orlando) in 94 and I’m not going to any this time around; there is no event worth that much money to me. I have a friend that has actually traveled to almost every WC he’s been alive for, and is not going to any games this time around because of the crazy prices. Stories of $300 parking and $1,000 tickets has really destroyed any excitement for this event.
Why is the coach that actually won her Competitive tournament, after the US hired her, taking strays here?