The United States is hosting the FIFA World Cup™ for the second time. The first was in 1994, 32 years ago. Japan narrowly missed out on qualifying in the previous year’s “Tragedy of Doha”, coming within seconds of securing its first-ever appearance. It remains the last World Cup the Japan National Team failed to qualify for.

The tournament featured 24 participating nations. FIFA's greatest concern was the number of goals scored. The average increased significantly from 2.21 goals per match four years earlier to 2.71. That figure was not surpassed at any of the seven World Cups through to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Above all, the tournament's greatest achievement was its attendance. A total of 3,587,538 spectators attended the 52 matches. At the 1998 World Cup in France, the competition expanded to 32 teams and the total number of matches increased by 23 per cent to 64. Yet no tournament through to the 2022 edition has surpassed that attendance record. The average attendance of 68,991 per match also remains the highest of all 22 World Cups by a considerable margin.

Looking at the figures alone, the 1994 World Cup in the United States could certainly be regarded as a great success. However, while covering the tournament there, I could not help feeling that something was not quite right.

The huge stadiums, normally used for American football, were packed with spectators and created a wonderful atmosphere. Yet step outside the stadium - literally just a step away - there was only ordinary American daily life, with no atmosphere of "a festival for all humanity".

“What are you here for?”

“The World Cup.”

“Really? What's that?”

That was an actual conversation I had with a taxi driver in one of the tournament's nine host cities.

At World Cups held in other countries, streets and shopping districts are colourfully decorated for the tournament, while city centres are filled with supporters from around the world wearing their national team shirts. Even if they do not speak the same language, they support their respective countries and connect with one another through their passion for football and mutual respect. In the United States in 1994, however, there was little sign of that atmosphere. Many Americans were probably aware that a major international sporting event was being held in their country. Even so, I felt very little of what could truly be described as “a festival for all humanity.”

What about this time?

Compared with 32 years ago, football has become much more popular in the United States, and the national team has become much stronger. The United States organising committee, working together with FIFA and host-city organising committees, has been making every effort to welcome football supporters from around the world. Fan Festivals, which have become an important feature of the World Cup since the 2006 tournament in Germany and provide venues outside the stadiums where tens of thousands of supporters can gather, are also planned. The tournament has received widespread publicity across the United States, and it is unlikely that anyone will ask, “What are you here for?” this time.

At every World Cup to date, without exception, the host nation has shown a willingness to welcome football supporters from around the world. Every host has understood that attending a World Cup is a lifelong dream for football supporters across the globe and has made every effort to ensure that the experience becomes a lifelong treasure. Above all, I will never forget the warm hospitality shown by the host nations and their people at the previous two tournaments, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

To me, that hospitality reflected respect both for football, a sport loved by people around the world, and for football supporters across the globe. I felt very little of that sense of respect at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, which was why I felt something was not quite right.

There may be difficult political and social issues. Even so, the World Cup is a festival for all humanity, where people from around the world come together through football. Thirty-two years after hosting the tournament for the first time, the United States is hosting the World Cup once again. I very much hope to see genuine respect shown for football and for football supporters around the world.

Written by OSUMI Yoshiyuki (Football Journalist)

*This article was originally posted on the Japan Football Association Newsletter, “JFAnews,” June 2026 edition.

Japan Football Association Newsletter “JFAnews”

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