CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

ALEXI LALAS IS BORN

As the US struggled to achieve desired heights as a global soccer power, it needed another way to stimulate interest in the game in America. Hosting the World Cup was just that way, and in 1994 the tournament was played at massive (mostly football) stadiums, across the country. Fans turned out in droves to experience the “beautiful game.” Along the way, the US Men’s National Team performed respectably, proving it could hang with some of the best team’s in the world. The attendance and commercial figures associated with that tournament were so compelling, they still rank best in the history of the World Cup. 

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