The 1994 World Cup helped rescue ‘the beautiful game’ from mediocrity. On its return to the US, expect more of that beauty

Global soccer was in the doldrums in the early 1990s – with poor ethics and boring defensive tactics. Then FIFA set about changing the game.

By: Cesar R. Torres, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 26, 2026

Words: 1,363

Last Updated: 1 month, 4 weeks ago

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By Cesar R. Torres, Penn State

Ahead of the 1994 World Cup – the first staged in the United States – players were asked to do something they never had before: sign a fair play declaration. The document, in which the soccer stars of the day pledged to respect the rules and opponents, was part of a plan by governing body FIFA to restore soccer’s reputation as “the beautiful game.” And expectations ran high …

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