The venue
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas

Matches at the FIFA World Cup 26™ will be hosted at the Dallas Cowboys’ state-of-the-art stadium in Arlington. When the tournament headed stateside 30 years ago, the six games in Dallas were staged at a former home of the Cowboys, the Cotton Bowl.

Built in 1930, it boasts a rich history and has held concerts by legendary iconic musicians including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and U2. Some of football’s greatest showmen thrilled fans at the stadium at USA 1994 and, below, we relive the competition’s three most memorable games in Dallas.

Nigeria 3-0 Bulgaria
Scorers: Yekini (21), Amokachi (43), Amuneke (55)
Group stage
Attendance: 44,132

Teams
Nigeria: Peter Rufai, Austin Eguavoen, Ben Iroha, Uche Okechukwu, Chidi Nwanu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George (Emeka Ezeugo), Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia (Mutiu Adepoju), Daniel Amokachi.
Coach: Clemens Westerhof

Bulgaria: Borislav Mihaylov, Emil Kremenliev, Trifon Ivanov, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Petar Hubchev, Zlatko Yankov, Iordan Letchkov (Nasko Sirakov), Daniel Borimirov (Ivaylo Yordanov), Krasimir Balakov, Emil Kostadinov, Hristo Stoichkov.
Coach: Dimitar Penev

The match
Making their first-ever World Cup finals appearance, Nigeria produced an exhilarating display of attacking football to blow away a highly-rated Bulgaria team.

Yekini got the ball rolling with a close-range finish which he marked with an emotionally-charged celebration, grabbing the goal netting and crying “It’s me, it’s me!”, having scored his nation’s first-ever goal at the tournament. Amokachi then doubled the Super Eagles’ advantage before Amuneke’s emphatic second-half header sealed a memorable victory.

Trivia
Nigeria legend Yekini, who tragically passed away aged just 48, remains his country’s all-time leading scorer. The man nicknamed ‘The Goalsfather’ netted 37 times in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles.

In April 1994, two months ahead of the World Cup, Nigeria were placed fifth in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Raking – the highest position an African nation has ever achieved.

Quotes
“At that point in time [before the Bulgaria match] we did not even know if we had a good squad. We knew we had good players but playing in a tournament of this calibre was something different. We were all nervous, but we just tried to play our football. Nobody reckoned with the way we played and that really helped us. No team was looking at Nigeria back then.”
Finidi George, Nigeria winger

“I feel grateful to God. It was our first time in the World Cup and everybody loved us. It was something special.”
Rasheed Yekini, Nigeria striker

Argentina 0-2 Bulgaria
Scorers: Stoichkov (61), Sirakov (90+3)
Group stage
Attendance: 63,998

Teams
Argentina: Luis Islas, Jose Chamot, Oscar Ruggeri, Fernando Caceres, Hernan Diaz, Fernando Redondo, Diego Simeone, Leonardo Rodriguez (Ramon Medina Bello), Claudio Caniggia (Ariel Ortega), Gabriel Batistuta, Abel Balbo.
Coach: Alfio Basile

Bulgaria: Borislav Mihaylov, Emil Kremenliev, Trifon Ivanov, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Petar Hubchev, Zlatko Yankov, Iordan Letchkov (Daniel Borimirov), Krasimir Balakov, Emil Kostadinov (Ilian Kiryakov), Hristo Stoichkov, Nasko Sirakov.
Coach: Dimitar Penev

The match
Bulgaria’s hopes of knockout-stage qualification were still in the balance ahead of their final Group D clash with Argentina. Three points from their opening two group games meant a win was required to guarantee their progress – and they went on to deliver an outstanding team performance.

In Stoichkov, they boasted one of the most feared forwards on the planet and he broke the deadlock with a clinical effort just after the hour. Sirakov’s late header sealed a famous win for Dimitar Penev’s side, who went on to record an incredible fourth-place World Cup finish.

Trivia
Sirakov’s stoppage-time goal to make it 2-0 had significant repercussions. It meant Argentina dropped from first place to third in the group on goal difference and, although Alfio Basile’s side still qualified as one of the best third-placed teams, it left them to face face Romania instead of Italy in the opening knockout road. While many viewed this is a more favourable draw, the Romanians stunned La Albiceleste 3-2 in the last 16.

Having beaten Mexico in their second group game, Bulgaria’s win was their second in succession having previously gone 17 World Cup games without victory.

Quotes
“We showed the world our generation of soccer players is one of the best right now. Bulgaria should be very proud of us.”
Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria striker

“Before the tournament began, I predicted that we would reach the semi-finals. I believed in our ability. We had great players but needed to gel as a team. There was no pressure on us, and that’s why it happened.”
Iordan Letchkov, Bulgaria midfielder

Netherlands 2-3 Brazil
Scorers: Bergkamp (64), Winter (76); Romario (53), Bebeto (63), Branco (81)
Quarter-final
Attendance: 63,500

Teams
Netherlands: Ed De Goey, Ronald Koeman, Stan Valckx, Frank Rijkaard (Ronald De Boer), Rob Witschge, Jan Wouters, Wim Jonk, Aron Winter, Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, Peter Van Vossen (Bryan Roy).
Coach: Dick Advocaat

Brazil: Taffarel, Jorginho, Branco (Cafu), Aldair, Marcio Santos, Mauro Silva, Dunga, Zinho, Mazinho (Rai), Bebeto, Romario.
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

The match
In a quarter-final classic at the Cotton Bowl, Brazil eventually emerged triumphant following a see-saw battle.

After Romario opened the scoring, Bebeto put A Seleção two goals to the good and subsequently produced his iconic baby-cradling celebration. The Netherlands refused to lie down and strikes from Bergkamp and Winter levelled the scores. Brazil would have the last word, however, with Branco’s free-kick piledriver clinching victory and place in the last four.

Trivia
Brazil goalscorers Romario and Bebeto boasted an incredible record when they were both on the pitch. They played 23 matches together and didn’t lose once (17 wins, six draws). The pair scored 33 goals between them in those games, including eight at USA 1994.

Match-winner Branco had not started any of Brazil’s previous matches at the tournament. With Leonardo suspended after a red card in A Seleção’s last-16 win over USA, the 30-year-old emphatically seized his chance. As well as scoring the game’s decisive goal, he also helped nullify flying Dutch winger Marc Overmars. “I had to mark perhaps Holland’s best player,” said the then 30-year-old. “I don’t think he had anything to do with the game.” Branco would also start the semi-final and final as Brazil went on to lift their fourth world title.

Quotes
“That was a unique moment for Bebeto. His wife had just had the baby [two days previously], and it was a quite an interesting celebration. He invented that on the spur of the moment. He scored the goal and started doing it. Mazinho, who was next to him, joined him and I, being next to arrive, just had to follow suit. The three of us made that gesture together, which left quite an impression on that World Cup.”
Romario, Brazil forward

“For my goal, I struck the ball with a lot of confidence. Before I hit the ball, I looked up at the scoreboard and saw there were 10 minutes to go. I got it in my head, it was the right moment. To go from 2-0, to 2-2 and then 3-2, it was a thing of destiny. If one did not cry, one would not have emotions.”
Branco, Brazil full-back