World Cup: Made in 1977, Pele’s prediction comes true

World Cup: Made in 1977, Pele’s prediction comes true

World Cup – In 1994, the United States made history by scoring four goals in a single World Cup match, a feat that stunned fans and marked a turning point for the sport. This achievement, witnessed by 70,492 spectators at a Los Angeles stadium, fulfilled a prophecy Pele had made a decade earlier. During a 1975 press conference in New York, he described joining the New York Cosmos as a decision with twelve challenges and eighteen opportunities, emphasizing the potential for soccer to thrive in America. The event took place at the 21 Club, a iconic venue that closed in 2020, where the team formally announced his arrival.

Pele’s vision for the sport’s growth in the U.S. was echoed in his 1977 autobiography, where he stated that the rise of soccer in the country was “inevitable.” That year, he also brought his talents to Kolkata, where he played against Mohun Bagan, highlighting the global reach of the game. Over time, the U.S. soccer landscape evolved dramatically, from the North American Soccer League’s collapse in 1984 to the birth of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996. The 1994 World Cup, held in the U.S., was seen as the sport’s defining moment in the nation’s history, with a team that included players like Christopher Sullivan, who had honed his skills in Hungary’s top league.

“No knock to them (the 1994 squad), but we have a lot of guys playing at higher levels, at big name clubs. We have a lot of confidence knowing that we play against some of the best players in the world, week in week out,” said USA defender Chris Richards in a 2023 interview.

The MLS journey was fraught with challenges, including rule changes like the 35-yard shootout and the suspension of the clock during stoppages. These issues were addressed by 1999, but the league continued to face obstacles. A major shift occurred in 2006 when Red Bull Group invested in New York Cosmos, followed by Canadian ownership in 2010 and Adidas as a sponsor. The introduction of a rule allowing three players beyond the salary cap in 2007 paved the way for stars like David Beckham, who joined LA Galaxy that same year.

With the arrival of Lionel Messi in 2023, Inter Miami became a symbol of the sport’s expansion in the U.S. Co-owner Jorge Mas declared it “our moment to change the football landscape in our country.” The impact was immediate: Nielsen reported a 173% surge in MLS viewership during the 2023 season. When Inter Miami won the MLS Cup in 2024, linear audience numbers spiked by 97%, reflecting the growing interest in the league. Today, MLS boasts 30 clubs, including three in Canada, with a collective value of $23 billion and Apple as a media partner. Since the U.S. co-hosted the World Cup in 2018, the league has added seven teams and nine stadiums, according to MLS commissioner Don Garber.

The league’s success also hinges on nurturing youth talent. In the 2025 Club World Cup, Inter Miami showcased this by fielding 20-year-old midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, who had joined the academy in 2021, against Paris-St Germain. This blend of veteran experience and emerging stars underscores the progress made since Pele’s early days, when the U.S. had only one European-based player in its 1990 World Cup squad. Now, the nation hosts a thriving football culture, with 62.5 million fans, the fourth-largest in the world, and a growing number of women following the men’s game.