USMNT 1994 World Cup Roster: Where Are They Now?

Before co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, the United States had hosted soccer’s biggest tournament just once, in 1994.

That tournament was memorable for many reasons: record-breaking attendances, Brazil’s unlikely triumph and, of course, Diana Ross’s infamous missed penalty in the opening ceremony.

While perhaps less iconic, the host nation’s run to the Round of 16 was still impressive, giving U.S. soccer several unforgettable moments—some iconic, others tragic—that have gone down in USMNT history.

Here, Sports Illustrated looks at where every member of the 1994 USMNT roster is today and the impact they had at the tournament.

Goalkeepers

Tony Meola

Tony Meola was the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper and captain at the 1994 World Cup, playing every minute of the tournament. He went on to finish his career in 2006 with exactly 100 international caps.

An MLS Cup winner with the Kansas City Wizards in 2000, he had a brief spell in coaching after retirement, but now works primarily as a broadcaster.

Brad Friedel

Brad Friedel was an unused substitute at the 1994 World Cup at just 23 years old. He would go on to earn 82 caps for the USMNT and establish himself as a Premier League mainstay, making 450 appearances across spells with Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur.

He is best known for holding the record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances (310), achieved between 2004 and 2012.

Since retiring in 2015, Friedel has worked as a manager, held various administrative roles, and also served as a pundit.

Juergen Sommer

Another unused goalkeeper for the U.S. in 1994, Juergen Sommer was playing for Luton Town at the time of the tournament. He went on to earn 10 caps for the national team, with his career ending in 2002 following a spell with the New England Revolution.

Since retiring, he has worked as a coach at both the professional and amateur levels, notably with Indiana University.

Defenders

Fernando Clavijo

Despite being 38 years old at the time—the oldest player on the American squad—Fernando Clavijo started three of the USMNT’s four matches at the 1994 World Cup. He went on to retire from international soccer with 61 caps, all earned within a five-year span.

The Uruguayan-American left back later became a well-known coach, serving as head coach of both the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids, as well as the Haiti national team.

Clavijo passed away in 2019 at the age of 63, five years after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Alexi Lalas

Previously known for his distinctive long red hair and beard, Alexi Lalas made 96 appearances for the USMNT, including four at the 1994 World Cup, where he played every minute.

After the tournament, the defender earned a move to Italy with Padova, becoming the first American soccer player to play in Serie A.

Since retiring in 2003, Lalas has done a bit of everything—working as a general manager for multiple MLS clubs, as well as a broadcaster and podcast host. He has also appeared on The Masked Singer and pursued a music career, releasing eight solo albums.

Marcelo Balboa

The first player to earn 100 caps for the USMNT, Marcelo Balboa is a true national team legend. He played every minute of the 1994 World Cup at center back.

A four-time MLS All-Star and two-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year, the former Colorado Rapids star has worked as both a coach and a broadcaster since retiring in 2002.

Cle Kooiman

Cle Kooiman started the USMNT’s 1994 World Cup opener against Switzerland at right back but didn’t feature again in the tournament. In fact, he never played for the national team after that, finishing his career with just 12 caps.

A former indoor soccer standout and a 1996 MLS All-Star with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Kooiman now works as a local coach in California for amateur club La Verne Lazers.

Mike Burns

Unused at the 1994 World Cup, Mike Burns went on to make 75 appearances for the USMNT during his career. At club level, he represented the New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, and Kansas City Wizards, earning an MLS All-Star selection in 1998 with New England.

After retiring, Burns held various roles with the Revolution, including General Manager, and now serves as Sporting Director for Sporting Kansas City.

Mike Lapper

During his 15-year playing career, Mike Lapper featured in England with Southend United, in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg, and in the United States with the Columbus Crew.

He made 44 appearances for the USMNT, though he was an unused substitute at the 1994 World Cup.

Since retiring, Lapper has worked as a coach with the Crew, West Virginia University and the New England Revolution, but has now stepped away from soccer to run a power-washing business in New Albany.

Paul Caligiuri

With 110 international appearances to his name, Paul Caligiuri retired in 2001 as one of the USMNT’s most capped players of all time. He started every match at the 1994 World Cup.

At club level, he played in Germany for teams including SV Meppen and Hansa Rostock, as well as in MLS, most notably with the LA Galaxy, where he spent five years and finished his career.

He now serves as Director of Soccer Relations for the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL).

Midfielders

Claudio Reyna

Just 20 at the 1994 World Cup, Claudio Reyna missed the tournament due to a hamstring injury. He would go on to feature in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups, captaining the team in 2006 and finishing his international career with 112 caps.

Reyna spent most of his professional career in Europe, playing in the Bundesliga for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, the Premier League for Sunderland and Manchester City and the Scottish Premieship for Rangers.

Father of current USMNT star Gio Reyna, Claudio has worked as Sporting Director for both Los Angeles FC and Austin FC since retiring.

Mike Sorber

Described by head coach Bora Milutinović as the USMNT’s “MVP” at the 1994 World Cup for his “disciplined and intelligent” performances, Mike Sorber started all four games of the tournament, mostly at left midfield.

He earned 67 caps before retiring in 2000. The former MetroStars and Pumas UNAM star moved into coaching and administration afterward, holding roles with Toronto FC, Los Angeles FC and St. Louis City SC.

Cobi Jones

The most capped player in USMNT history with 164 appearances, Cobi Jones played in every game at the 1994 World Cup, progressing from late substitute to starter as the tournament went on.

Also LA Galaxy’s all-time appearance leader and a two-time MLS Cup winner, Jones had a brief spell in coaching after retiring in 2007. He is now best known for his work as a broadcaster and is also part of the ownership group of Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Tab Ramos

The first player to sign for Major League Soccer, Tab Ramos is widely regarded as one of the USMNT’s best-ever players, earning 81 caps and scoring eight goals.

At the 1994 World Cup, he was involved in a tragic incident against Brazil, when he was elbowed in the head by Leonardo, suffering a skull fracture that left him hospitalized for several weeks.

The former MetroStars and Real Betis midfielder has since moved into coaching, holding roles with the U.S. national team as an assistant, Houston Dynamo and Hartford Athletic.

Hugo Pérez

Hugo Perez played just once at the 1994 World Cup. | IMAGO/WEREK

Hugo Pérez earned 73 caps for the USMNT during his playing career, though only one came at the 1994 World Cup, featuring in the Round of 16 loss to Brazil. That would prove to be his penultimate appearance for the team, with his final outing coming in a friendly against England before retiring.

A former indoor soccer standout who once caught the eye of legendary Ajax manager Johan Cruyff, Pérez transitioned into coaching after retirement, most notably serving as the head coach of the El Salvador national team.

John Harkes

John Harkes is best known as the first American to play in the Premier League and to appear in the final of a major English tournament, signing with Sheffield Wednesday in 1990 and featuring in the League Cup final the following year.

For the U.S. men’s national team, he earned 90 caps, including the first three games at the 1994 World Cup, where he famously delivered the cross that led to Andrés Escobar’s own goal in the 2-1 win over Colombia—a goal with tragic consequences for the Colombian defender.

Writing for The Players’ Tribune about Escobar’s murder, Harkes reflected: “The questions came up. How do you feel about that? You were the one who crossed the ball. And I thought, Well, that’s just unfair. It was a moment in the game. I struck the ball. A cross. A kick. A deflection. It’s the game, you tell yourself. Teammates tell you not to blame yourself. It’s the game, they tell you. But the truth is, you do feel connected to it, right or wrong.”

Since retiring, Harkes has worked as a coach for FC Cincinnati and Greenville Triumph, as well as a broadcaster.

Thomas Dooley

Born in Germany, Thomas Dooley was called up by the USMNT in 1992, eligible through his father, who had served in the U.S. Army.

Dooley went on to earn 86 caps, playing every minute at the 1994 World Cup and captaining the team at the 1998 tournament, where he again featured in every game.

The former 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Columbus Crew midfielder retired in 2001 and has since worked as a coach, serving as an assistant for the U.S. national team and as head coach of both the Philippines and Guyana.

Forwards

Frank Klopas

Born in Greece, Frank Klopas didn’t play a single minute at the 1994 World Cup. The former AEK Athens and Chicago Fire forward retired in 1999 with 39 caps and 12 goals for the USMNT.

He has since moved into management, serving as head coach of both Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact.

Earnie Stewart

Earnie Stewart spent the majority of his career in the Netherlands, his country of birth, enjoying successful spells with VVV-Venlo, Willem II and NAC Breda. With a combined 111 goals, he remains the highest-scoring American in European club competitions.

Capped 101 times by the USMNT, Stewart started every game at the 1994 World Cup, notably scoring the team’s second goal—and ultimately the winner—against Colombia in the second group game.

Since retiring in 2005, Stewart has worked as General Manager of the USMNT, Sporting Director of the United States Soccer Federation and is now the Director of Football for PSV Eindhoven.

Roy Wegerle

Former Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Coventry City striker Roy Wegerle was born in South Africa but moved to the U.S. to play college soccer, later earning citizenship through his wife.

He went on to earn 41 caps for the USMNT, including appearances in every game at the 1994 World Cup as a substitute.

After retiring from professional soccer, Wegerle briefly pursued professional golf and now works in coaching and media development.

Eric Wynalda

Eric Wynalda scored 34 goals in 106 appearances for the USMNT between 1990 and 2000, including one at the 1994 World Cup in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland—a stunning 30-yard free-kick he scored despite suffering from a bout of hives at the time.

The former 1. FC Saarbrücken and San Jose Clash striker retired in 2008 and has since worked as a coach, holding roles with the Atlanta Silverbacks, Las Vegas Lights 39 caps and 12 and New Amsterdam, while also working in broadcasting.

Joe-Max Moore

Capped 100 times by the USMNT, Joe-Max Moore didn’t play at the 1994 World Cup, but went on to feature in 1998 and 2002.

With 24 international goals, the former Everton and New England Revolution striker ranks among the U.S.’s all-time top scorers. Since retiring in 2005, Moore has largely stepped away from soccer, focusing on flipping houses and promoting energy drinks, though he has dabbled occasionally in broadcasting.

Manager: Bora Milutinović

Hired in 1991, Bora Milutinović helped the USMNT reach the knockout round of the World Cup in 1994 for the first time since the 1930s. Just a year after the tournament, however, he was fired after refusing to take on administrative duties in addition to coaching.

He would later manage Mexico, Nigeria, China, Honduras, and Jamaica, retiring in 2014. In total, Milutinović led eight national teams in 273 games—the most by any national team manager in history. Now in his eighties, he is enjoying a well-earned rest.