If you hadn’t noticed, the passion for the world’s game has made its way to the United States.

Fans from all over the globe have poured into the country for the biggest World Cup in history and cities across America have opened their doors to lend a welcome to fans and players alike. 

If your old enough to remember 1994 — born in 1995, I am not — you may remember the only other World Cup held in the U.S. 

It's a tournament that held its spot in the record books thanks to the attendance: 3.6 million people over the course of the games. 

It also helped springboard the sport in America.  

Soccer was long overlooked in the United States due to the presence of other sports, namely baseball, football and basketball. 

The MLS was born out of the hype from the ‘94 tournament, coming in 1996 with 10 initial franchises across the country. It allowed a generation of children to grow into the game in their backyard. 

The past of U.S. Soccer prior to 1994 was abysmal. 1930 was the high point, a third-place finish in the World Cup — the inaugural edition, which only featured eight teams. The U.S. qualified for the tournament again in 1934 and 1950 before being shutout for 40 years. 

In 1990 the Yanks qualified for the tournament in Italy, but were quickly sent home after an 0-3 spat in the group stage. 

Then, 1994 created the spark.  

A third-place finish in the group was enough to send they through to the knockouts, where they lost to the eventual champions, Brazil 1-0. 

The U.S. has made all tournaments since, except for 2018 in Russia. A loss to Trinidad and Tobago sealed their fate that year in the qualifiers. 

Now, with the World Cup back in the United States in 2026, the American people have once again poured out for support of not just their squad, but all the teams. 

The Algerians made camp in Lawrence, Kansas and were welcomed in by the University of Kansas marching band playing their national anthem. 

Scotland and Norway fans have taken over Boston with Viking chants and bagpipes. 

Of course, the crowds have flocked to follow Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — arguably the two best to ever play the game. 

The tournament only just entered the knockout rounds and has already surpassed the 3.6 million people in attendance in 1994. 

Then there is the Yanks, who took their first two games and won their group for just the second time in history. 

Next awaits a date with Bosnia and Herzegovina this evening in the round of 32. 

As for soccer in America, the MLS now sits at 30 clubs with multiple other national and regional leagues playing around the country, all with their own support. 

Time will only tell how the game will continue to grow from this World Cup.