SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they will host a reunion for the players of the 1994 United States World Cup team around their game against the New York Red Bulls on July 2 at Stanford Stadium. The players will attend a pregame meet and greet with select fans before being honored on the field at halftime of the Quakes match at the same stadium where the U.S. faced Brazil in the second round of the FIFA World Cup on July 4, 1994.
Players currently scheduled to attend the match are Tab Ramos, Thomas Dooley, Marcelo Balboa, Paul Caligiuri, Fernando Clavijo, Mike Sorber, Juergen Sommer and Cobi Jones. More members of the squad may be confirmed in the coming weeks.
TICKETS: Specials, individual tickets on sale for SJ-NYRB on July 2
PHOTO GALLERY: Flashback to the 1994 World Cup
“It is always great to get together as a group and reminisce about that World Cup,” said former U.S. midfielder Thomas Dooley. “July 4 at Stanford was a big moment in the history of soccer in the United States. Unfortunately we lost to the eventual champions, Brazil, but I think overall that World Cup was a big success and helped launch the growth of the game here. I am looking forward to getting up to Stanford for Fourth of July weekend.”
Any fan that attended the 1994 U.S. game against Brazil will receive a complimentary ticket to the Quakes-Red Bulls game on July 2. Each fan will have to present a ticket stub or proof of attendance at the match in order to redeem a complimentary ticket. Fans can redeem the tickets at the Earthquakes Front Office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 220 in Santa Clara or at the box office on game day.
The weekend will be a return for the former teammates to the stadium of one of the biggest matches in U.S. Soccer history. They were all a part of the United States team that fell to Brazil 1-0 in a tight second-round match at Stanford Stadium before a Bay Area soccer record crowd of 84,147 at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
The appearance by the former players will be a celebration of the 1994 U.S. squad that surprised the world by defeating Colombia and tying Switzerland in the first round, earning themselves a spot in the first knockout stage against world powerhouse Brazil. The Americans played the Brazilians tough and had their chances, especially after Brazil was forced to play a man down from the 43rd minute on, but a 72nd-minute strike from Bebeto did away with the U.S. hopes.
Tickets for the match are on sale now. Individual tickets will range from $15 to $50 and can be purchased at sjearthquakes.com or by calling 800-225-2277. Group tickets and a FIREWORKS 4 PACK are on sale now by calling the Earthquakes Front Office at 408-556-7700. The four-pack is also on sale at sjearthquakes.com and includes four tickets and two Chris Wondolowski t-shirts for $50. Along with the four-pack, fans can also take advantage of a special GROUP TWO-PACK that includes tickets to the Quakes-Red Bulls game and the Quakes-West Brom match on July 12 at Buck Shaw Stadium. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for the two-pack and should call 408-556-7700 for more details.
In addition to those ticket options, fans from San Francisco and Danville can also purchase a Quakes Blues Cruise ticket package by calling 408-556-7700. For $25, fans will receive a match ticket and transportation to and from the stadium from two locations in San Francisco and one in Danville. Season ticket holders can also ride the bus at a discounted rate and should contact their Earthquakes Fan Relations Representative to inquire about availability.
About Stanford Stadium
A new Stanford Stadium was unveiled in 2006, making the Home of Stanford Football one of the premier college football facilities in the nation. Originally built in 1921, Stanford Stadium played host to many historic events including the Super Bowl XIX, men's and women's World Cup Soccer matches, Olympic soccer competition, Presidential nomination, Track & Field, and numerous college football games. The $100 million project on the new stadium began on November 26, 2005, moments after Stanford's final game. The stadium currently has a capacity of 50,000.
