A new documentary film from Imagine Documentaries, Delirio Films, DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Cookie Jar & A Dream Studios, and Copper Pot Pictures about the U.S. men’s national team and the 1994 World Cup is arriving this May on FOX Sports, the home for English-language coverage of this year’s tournament.
Summer of ’94 is premiering at SXSW this weekend and will screen on FOX on May 23.
“Summer of ’94 brilliantly captures the dramatic turning point of soccer’s popularity in America and the inspiring 1994 U.S. men’s team,” said Barry Nugent, VP for development and original programming at FOX Sports. “The 1994 World Cup changed the trajectory of the sport forever, and this film tells the unfiltered story about a group of players who came together under impossible circumstances and helped put U.S. soccer on the global stage. As we look ahead to FIFA World Cup 2026 across North America, FOX Sports is proud to partner with Imagine Entertainment and the filmmakers to bring audiences a powerful reminder of where it all began.”
The special features footage documented by the ’94 players and coach Bora Milutinović, along with new interviews with Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones, alongside Tony Meola, John Harkes, Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda, Jeff Agoos, Thomas Dooley, Paul Caligiuri, and more.
“When we started this film, we were simply fans who felt this team never got its due,” said Dave LaMattina and Chad Walker, directors at Copper Pot Pictures. “They didn’t lift a trophy, but they changed the sport in America. What struck us most was how much they were figuring out in real time, with no league, no blueprint, and no guarantees. The footage they captured puts you inside that experience with them as they chose to believe in each other before anyone else did.”
“My dad took me to see the U.S. play Colombia at the Rose Bowl in the summer of ’94 and I never forgot that feeling of pride in watching these guys compete,” said Marc Gilbar, president of Imagine Brands, IP, and partnerships. “It’s an honor to partner with FOX Sports to bring their story to life alongside the tournament’s momentous return to North America.”
“At Delirio, we’re inspired by stories that have shaped who we are as a culture, and the story of the ’94 U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team is one of the most important and defining untold chapters in American sports history,” said Christopher Leggett, partner at Delirio Films. “It’s both a blast and a profound honor to be working with these legendary players. Revisiting this once-in-a-lifetime experience with them has been an absolute thrill, and we can’t wait to share it with fans across the world.”
