ORLANDO, FL — June 19, 1994
On this day 30 years ago, the city of Orlando made international sports history by hosting its first-ever FIFA World Cup match at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
In front of a crowd of nearly 60,000 fans, Belgium defeated Morocco 1-0 in a tightly contested Group F match. Belgian defender Marc Degryse scored the lone goal in the 11th minute, marking the stadium’s first-ever World Cup goal.
The match was part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the first time the tournament was held in the United States. Orlando was one of nine U.S. cities selected as a host and underwent major upgrades to the Citrus Bowl in preparation.
Over the span of the tournament, Orlando welcomed fans from across the globe and hosted a total of four group-stage matches, helping spark Florida’s long-term growth in professional soccer.
