The FIFA World Cup first landed in the United States, and Los Angeles, in 1994. Thirty-two years later, the men’s tournament’s return to the US and LA comes at a time with soccer’s footprint the largest it’s ever been stateside.
In that gap, Major League Soccer was founded, soccer-specific stadiums were built, international stars arrived, attendance records were shattered, and a new generation of fans grew up loving the beautiful game.
Throughout this period, the LA Galaxy have been intertwined with these moments that have grown the sport in a country largely unfamiliar with it the last time it hosted the men’s World Cup.
1994: FIFA World Cup
The first ever FIFA World Cup on U.S. soil was hosted in 1994 and was largely deemed a success with major American venues hosting the men’s World Cup. Los Angeles was the site of the final, in which Brazil topped Italy in penalties at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium. The United States Men’s National Team also won its first game at a World Cup since 1950, defeating Colombia 2-1 at the Rose Bowl. The U.S. was eliminated by the eventual winners, Brazil in the Round of 16. Future LA Galaxy stars Cobi Jones (USA), Alexi Lalas (USA), Jorge Campos (MEX) and Carlos Hermosillo (MEX) all participated in the tournament.
1996: MLS begins
Major League Soccer began in 1996, with the LA Galaxy as one of the original 10 teams. Calling the Rose Bowl their home, the Galaxy opened their inaugural season in front of 69,255 fans. The Galaxy fell in overtime to D.C. United in the first ever MLS Cup championship match.
1999: FIFA Women’s World Cup
Like the 1994 Men's World Cup, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in high-capacity stadiums across the United States, with the Rose Bowl once again hosting the final. The United States Women’s National Team won its second world title in a penalty shootout over China and set a new standard for women’s soccer.
2001: LA Galaxy win CCC but MLS nearly folds
The LA Galaxy were crowned 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup winners, beating Olimpia of Honduras 3-2 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. No other MLS team would win the competition until 2022. That very year, the league was on the brink of folding until Phil Anschutz and the Hunt family, headed by Lamar Hunt, invested further to keep the league afloat. Anschutz, who owned the Galaxy, began operating six MLS franchises. Along with Robert Kraft owning the New England Revolution, the three owners ran the entirety of the league (Anschutz 6 clubs, Hunt 3, Kraft 1). This unique setup helped save the league during a difficult time. The two longstanding American soccer trophies are named in their honor: the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy (MLS Cup) and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2002: USMNT’s best modern World Cup, Galaxy win first MLS Cup
In 2002, the USMNT made its deepest run in a World Cup since 1930, reaching the quarterfinals in the tournament hosted in South Korea and Japan. That same year, the LA Galaxy claimed their first MLS Cup title, with Carlos Ruiz scoring the winning goal in extra time.
2003: Dignity Health Sports Park opens, hosts Women’s World Cup
In 2003, the LA Galaxy moved to Carson, California to what is now Dignity Health Sports Park. The complex has been the club’s home ever since and in 2003 hosted FIFA Women’s World Cup games after the tournament was moved to the U.S. from China due to the spread of the SARS virus. The stadium hosted the final, in which Germany defeated Sweden 2-1 in extra time. Dignity Health Sports Park will host 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games events.
2007: David Beckham arrives
In 2007, the LA Galaxy signed David Beckham. The English midfielder was the first global superstar of such caliber to sign with the league, dramatically raising the profile of MLS and strengthening confidence in its longevity. Beckham drew international attention to the Galaxy. With him on the team, the club won two MLS Cups and appeared in three finals. His legacy is cemented in front of the stadium in the form of a statue, the first of three to be erected so far in Legends Plaza along with Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones.
2010: South Africa World Cup as Galaxy dominance begins
The 2010 World Cup was another turning point for soccer in the U.S. as the men’s national team drew with England and advanced from the group stage thanks to a last-minute winner from the LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan against Algeria. The Galaxy, an MLS Cup finalist in 2009, went on to win the 2011 and 2012 MLS Cups.
2014: Brazil World Cup and Galaxy’s fifth title
Following another men’s World Cup in which the U.S. advanced out of the group stage, the Galaxy became the first MLS club to win five titles. The Galaxy’s historic title capped off a four-year period in which the Galaxy were crowned champions of the league three times. In each of the occasions, the club won the final at home, with 2011’s title being the lone “neutral site” game.
2018: 2026 World Cup awarded to North America
As the 2018 World Cup kicked off in Russia, it was announced that North America successfully bid for the 2026 men’s tournament, 32 years after the U.S. had last hosted the men’s World Cup. Mexico had last hosted in 1986, and Canada had never hosted a men’s World Cup.
2023: The Galaxy return to the Rose Bowl
On July 4, 2023, the LA Galaxy hosted crosstown rivals LAFC at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy’s original home. The game, a 2-1 Galaxy win, drew a record MLS crowd of 82,110 that still stands to this day. The Galaxy hosted LAFC again at the iconic venue the following 4th of July. The attendance record is emblematic of how far the league has come that rivalry games have outgrown the soccer-specific stadiums built for MLS clubs.
2024: LA chosen as host city, LA Galaxy win sixth MLS Cup
Los Angeles was announced as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with games to be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Galaxy went on to win their sixth MLS Cup, two more than any other club in MLS. The 2-1 win at Dignity Health Sports Park over the New York Red Bulls in the championship match capped off one of the club’s best seasons.
2026: World Cup and MLS calendar change announced
With the World Cup on the horizon, Major League Soccer announced that alignment with the global calendar will take effect in 2027, positioning the MLS schedule to run from fall to spring for the first time in the league’s history. During the World Cup, Dignity Health Sports Park serves as a training site for teams participating in games in LA.
