Landon Donovan's 1994 World Cup Moment Could Be Coming Home for Millions

There’s a reason Landon Donovan won’t stop talking about one game he watched as a 12-year-old kid at the Rose Bowl in 1994. It wasn’t just about seeing Argentina and Romania play—it was the moment he discovered a whole world existed beyond his neighborhood park. Now, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off on U.S. soil this week, the legendary forward and midfielder believes millions of young Americans are about to have their own life-altering experience.

Donovan’s conviction is grounded in personal proof. He credits that single afternoon with sparking the obsession that would define his entire career. But here’s what makes his outlook particularly potent right now: hosting the tournament at home eliminates a barrier that has historically kept American soccer from breaking through to the mainstream. Kids won’t need permission slips or expensive airfare. They’ll just need to turn on their TV or show up to a stadium in their own country. The amplification is impossible to ignore.

What Donovan sees playing out this summer goes beyond nostalgia or feel-good messaging. When young players watch Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie perform on home soil, the pull won’t be abstract. It’ll be immediate, tangible, and right there in their living rooms or local venues. That proximity matters. For decades, U.S. Soccer has fought an uphill battle against cultural indifference and the dominance of established sports. A home World Cup shatters one major obstacle: accessibility.

The real question isn’t whether this tournament will inspire kids to play soccer—it’s how many, and for how long. The infrastructure to convert that inspiration into sustained participation will be crucial. But if Donovan’s personal origin story teaches anything, it’s that one spectacular moment can change everything. The next few weeks could plant millions of seeds. How they grow depends on what comes next.

FOX One will be streaming all 104 matches from June 11 to July 19, so the barrier to access is virtually gone. Tune in and watch not just how the U.S. performs on the pitch, but how the country’s relationship with soccer transforms in real time.