The World Cup 2026 is coming to North America–Canada, Mexico and the United States. The last time the US hosted this event was 1994. There were 32 teams in the tournament. At that time there was no professional soccer league in the United States. The United States as host nation was an automatic qualifier and did not have to go through CONCACAF qualifying. The big question-could the US team make it to the knockout phase of the tournament.
The soccer experts thought it would be impossible to get out of Group A play. The US was definitely the lowest ranked team in the group behind Romania, Switzerland and Columbia. Two European teams and one from South America gave the US a tough draw. The first game with Switzerland ended in a 1-1 draw. The only way to get out of the group was to get a win in one of the next two games. Next up was Columbia. On June 22, 1994 the American’s battled a tough Columbian team. When it looked like the game would go the distance as a 1-1 draw, the soccer gods gave the United States team a true gift. The US was the lucky recipient of an own goal. The player who ended up playing the ball into the Columbian goal was the, the captain of the team–Andres Escobar. The three points from that win were enough to get the US into the round of 16 where they lost 1-0 on July 4 to eventual champion Brazil.
This is where football became real life. Andres Escobar returned home to Medellin. He went out to the club July 2, 1994 with friends. After being out until the early morning hours and upon returning to his car he was shot and killed. Here in the United States we didn’t learn much about Columbia at the time. The other Escobar–Pablo–was a cartel leader, drug baron, soccer tam owner and in some ways a hero to the poor. Was the death directly related to the game, the own goal? Was the death a part of normal life in Columbia at the time? Did the player have an association with the other Escobar in Columbia.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga | ||
| Date of birth | 13 March 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Medellín, Colombia | ||
| Date of death | 2 July 1994 (aged 27) | ||
| Place of death | Medellín, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1985–1986 | Atlético Nacional | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1989 | Atlético Nacional | 78 | (0) |
| 1990 | Young Boys | 8 | (0) |
| 1990–1994 | Atlético Nacional | 144 | (0) |
| Total | 230 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1988–1994 | Colombia | 51 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
At the time Columbia was not a very safe place. The various stories at the time of Andres death reported it was due to the own goal. Since then more stories have come out regarding other reasons for the killing.
We are reaching a point in the United States where our soccer program is struggling again on the world stage. As host to this summer’s Copa Mundial a good portion of the fans from participating countries are afraid to travel to the US. Why? The approach of the current administration to immigration enforcement has made many in Latin and Central America think twice before booking a trip to support their team. Do you think the US is safe for these people even as visitors?
This ESPN 30 for 30 breaks down why Andres was killed. It will also review the impact his death had on the Columbian National Team players. It will also review what the country did to try and prevent future football tragedies.
Soccer is futbol. Futbol is passion. In Latin America we need to understand their view of the world to understand the passion.
The event in 2026 is the first time the field has been set at 48 teams. Columbia has qualified from COMEBOL. Switzerland has qualified from UEFA. The United States is in Group D with matches against Paraguay, Turkey and Australia. The runner-up in 1998-Italy did not qualify for this North American World Cup. On the last playoff day Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina on kicks from the mark after a winner could not be determined from extra time.
