The U.S. Men’s National Team wasn’t supposed to make history in 1994. They spent two grueling years living and training together before the World Cup, hoping they wouldn’t embarrass the host nation.
Trailer for “Summer of ’94”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Before the 1994 World Cup, the United States didn’t even have a top-tier pro soccer league.
- The players filmed much of their own journey on handheld camcorders, giving the doc raw behind-the-scenes footage that had never been publicly seen.
- This team of massive underdogs only advanced to the Round of 16 at the first World Cup ever held in the United States.
Watch “Summer of ’94”
You can watch “Summer of ’94” free on Tubi.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: Not yet available
Director’s Note: This documentary mixes never-before-seen player-shot footage with new interviews from Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, Tony Meola, coach Bora Milutinović, and more.
Release Date: 2024
Other Unique Stuff
- Coach Bora Milutinović had already built a reputation for taking underdog nations deep into the World Cup, bringing a level of international experience that almost nobody in U.S. soccer had.
- The team’s surprising run in 1994 dramatically changed how Americans viewed soccer and helped create enough momentum for Major League Soccer to launch in 1996.
Wrap Up:
If you’re a soccer fan, “Summer of ’94” is an easy watch. Even if you’re not, it’s a great underdog story about a team that helped change American soccer.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc