GVSU Expert: A Q&A on what it means for the United States to host the World Cup

The U.S. hosted the World Cup back in 1994. What factors played into the success of the event for the country?

The 1994 World Cup was really a watershed moment in U.S. soccer history, moving soccer from the fringes to the center of public consciousness. A record-breaking 3.6 million spectators came to watch matches in person, and television coverage introduced the game to millions more Americans. Importantly, during the 1994 tournament, the U.S. Men's National Team advanced out of group stage play, the first time that had happened since 1930, giving Americans a magical and historic moment to get behind the home team.

Major League Soccer (MLS) was also born out of the tournament, as FIFA required the U.S. to create a professional soccer league as a condition for winning the hosting bid. Alongside the U.S. Women's National Team World Cup victories (four total since 1991) the success of the 1994 tournament helped to launch much of the soccer-related culture and social structure that we see today in the U.S.

The U.S. hosts major sporting events every year. What is it about the World Cup that sets it apart from other major sporting events?

As a truly global event, the World Cup distinguishes itself from other sporting spectacles in terms of sheer scale and cultural significance. The game of soccer is played virtually everywhere in the world, with the World Cup its apogee, the pinnacle of sporting achievement. Five billion people sharing a cultural touchpoint is massive, bridging divides of culture, language and nationality through connection to "The Beautiful Game." In this way, soccer is more than just a game. It is a container for cultural values, worldviews, economic and political relationships, shared community and so much more.

The U.S. is hosting alongside Canada and Mexico. What is the significance of FIFA choosing to split the matches across multiple host countries rather than a single one?

This is the first time FIFA has awarded a joint bid to three host nations: The U.S., Canada, and Mexico. There are some practical reasons for this, including that all three nations have the existing stadium infrastructure, broadcast networks and marketing resources necessary to make this a very profitable World Cup. By co-hosting, they are also spreading out some of the financial risks and organizational burdens of the tournament in its newly expanded format of 48 teams and 104 matches. There is a symbolic dimension, as well, signaling that the three nations are friends and neighbors who share values and a sense of community, and that they can work together to put on one of the world's greatest sporting spectacles.

Describe the growth of soccer in the United States. How did the '94 World Cup and Women's World Cup Championships impact that growth?

Soccer is booming in the U.S. right now, with shows like "Ted Lasso" and docuseries like "Welcome to Wrexham," expanded youth participation, expansion in Major League Soccer, the National Women's Soccer League and other professional and semi-professional leagues. In Grand Rapids, we have several new semi-professional teams popping up, as well as the new AC Grand Rapids professional team set to launch in spring 2027 at Amway Stadium. Soccer is now the third most popular sport in the U.S., edging out baseball in terms of popularity.

The 2026 World Cup, with all its hype and broadcast accessibility, is set to only further soccer's popularity here. The U.S. national teams, like national teams everywhere, inspire imagined communities, inviting fans and spectators to identify with something bigger than themselves, and bringing strangers together around a sense of belonging and community. For example, even if you are unable to attend a World Cup match live in person this summer, you still can head to "watch parties" planned across West Michigan.