sports
World Cup 94 chief Alan Rothenberg: ‘We wanted Whitney Houston on the pitch but Fifa said no’
The man in charge the last time the US hosted the World Cup marvels at the transformation of football in America over the last 32 years
TL;DR
- Alan Rothenberg, the 1994 World Cup chief, wanted Whitney Houston to perform on the pitch for the final, but FIFA refused, citing concerns about potential pitch damage from rain.
- Rothenberg cites the 1994 World Cup's innovation in making the event entertaining, contrasting it with previous tournaments.
- He notes that FIFA's stance on pitch performances has since changed, with modern World Cup finals featuring elaborate halftime shows on the field.
- Rothenberg marvels at the growth of soccer in the US, highlighting the transformation of US Soccer from a small, near-bankrupt organization to a multi-million dollar entity.
- He acknowledges the political complexities surrounding the current World Cup, particularly concerning the Trump administration and international geopolitical issues, but believes they are manageable.
- Rothenberg expects immigration officials to be restrained during the tournament, similar to their approach at other major events.