Football's American dream has room to grow, says Jones

HOUSTON: The 1994 World Cup in the United States delivered Major League Soccer, but this edition has the potential for the exponential growth of the game in the country beyond what anyone thought possible, says former international Cobi Jones.

Jones was part of the US side that reached the knockout rounds on home soil 32 years ago before a loss to eventual champions Brazil in the last 16. Since then, perceptions of the sport in the country have changed markedly.

"In 1994 the World Cup was more of an ‘event’, it was an oddity here within the US of, 'Okay, what's this big soccer thing all about?'," Jones told Reuters in an exclusive interview in Houston on Tuesday.

"Within the soccer world, everyone knew (about the World Cup), but there were much more people on the peripheries in the US still trying to figure it out. Now you have a good understanding by the American public of this tournament."

Massive fan zones attracting tens of thousands for every game did not exist in 1994 and for those wanting to watch matches, the best bet was finding an English sports bar or tuning into Mexican channel Telemundo on cable television.

Jones, who would go on to become his country’s most capped international with 164 appearances, believes the impact of the 2026 World Cup goes well beyond fan recognition.

"When we look at 1994, the MLS was a specific planned next step and something that came about because of the World Cup. When we look at this tournament, I’m thinking about the financial side and more companies wanting to get involved," he said.

"The potential is untapped, and we don't know where it could go. I know everyone says soccer will never be the biggest sport (in the US), but it's continuing to grow and continuing to be exciting."

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