The 1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage was the second and final stage of the 1994 FIFA World Cup finals in the United States. The stage began on July 2, 1994, and ended with the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on July 17, 1994.
Sixteen teams advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament: The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the best four third-placed teams. In the round of 16, the four third-placed teams played against four of the group winners from group A-D, with the remaining two group winners from group E and F taking on two of the group runners-up; the remaining four runners-up were paired off against each other. The winners of the eight round of 16 matches were then paired together in the quarterfinals, the winners of which played against each other in the semifinals.
The ties in each round were played over a single match; in the event that scores were level after 90 minutes, the teams would play an additional 30 minutes of extra time, divided into two 15-minute halves, to determine the winner. If the scores remained level after extra time, the teams would contest a penalty shootout.
A third place match was also held on the day before the final, between the two losing teams of the semifinals.
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group | Winners | Runners-up | Third-placed teams (Best four qualify) |
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A | Romania | Switzerland | United States |
B | Brazil | Sweden | — |
C | Germany | Spain | — |
D | Nigeria | Bulgaria | Argentina |
E | Mexico | Republic of Ireland | Italy |
F | Netherlands | Saudi Arabia | Belgium |
Based on group results, the matches would be the following in Round of 16:
Round of 16 | Teams per qualified group positions | Teams identified |
---|---|---|
Match 1: | A1 – C3/D3/E3 | Romania – Argentina |
Match 2: | B2 – F2 | Sweden – Saudi Arabia |
Match 3: | F1 – E2 | Netherlands – Ireland |
Match 4: | B1 –A3/C3/D3 | Brazil – United States |
Match 5: | E1 – D2 | Mexico – Bulgaria |
Match 6: | C1 – A3/B3/F3 | Germany – Belgium |
Match 7: | D1 – B3/E3/F3 | Nigeria – Italy |
Match 8: | A2 – C2 | Switzerland – Spain |
The pairings for matches 1, 4, 6, and 7 depended on who the best third places were that qualified for the round of 16. The following table, published in Section 28 of the tournament regulations, shows the different options to define the rivals of the winners of groups A, B, C, and D.
Third teams qualify from groups: | Romania (A1) plays vs.: | Brazil (B1) plays vs.: | Germany (C1) plays vs.: | Nigeria (D1) plays vs.: |
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A B C D | C3 | D3 | A3 | B3 |
A B C E | C3 | A3 | B3 | E3 |
A B C F | C3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
A B D E | D3 | A3 | B3 | E3 |
A B D F | D3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
A B E F | E3 | A3 | B3 | F3 |
A C D E | C3 | D3 | A3 | E3 |
A C D F | C3 | D3 | A3 | F3 |
A C E F | C3 | A3 | F3 | E3 |
A D E F | D3 | A3 | F3 | E3 |
B C D E | C3 | D3 | B3 | E3 |
B C D F | C3 | D3 | B3 | F3 |
B C E F | E3 | C3 | B3 | F3 |
B D E F | E3 | D3 | B3 | F3 |
C D E F | C3 | D3 | F3 | E3 |
Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||
July 3 – Pasadena | ||||||||||||||
Romania | 3 | |||||||||||||
July 10 – Stanford | ||||||||||||||
Argentina | 2 | |||||||||||||
Romania | 2 (4) | |||||||||||||
July 3 – Dallas | ||||||||||||||
Sweden (p) | 2 (5) | |||||||||||||
Saudi Arabia | 1 | |||||||||||||
July 13 – Pasadena | ||||||||||||||
Sweden | 3 | |||||||||||||
Sweden | 0 | |||||||||||||
July 4 – Orlando | ||||||||||||||
Brazil | 1 | |||||||||||||
Netherlands | 2 | |||||||||||||
July 9 – Dallas | ||||||||||||||
Republic of Ireland | 0 | |||||||||||||
Netherlands | 2 | |||||||||||||
July 4 – Stanford | ||||||||||||||
Brazil | 3 | |||||||||||||
Brazil | 1 | |||||||||||||
July 17 – Pasadena | ||||||||||||||
United States | 0 | |||||||||||||
Brazil (p) | 0 (3) | |||||||||||||
July 5 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
Italy | 0 (2) | |||||||||||||
Mexico | 1 (1) | |||||||||||||
July 10 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
Bulgaria (p) | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||
Bulgaria | 2 | |||||||||||||
July 2 – Chicago | ||||||||||||||
Germany | 1 | |||||||||||||
Germany | 3 | |||||||||||||
July 13 – East Rutherford | ||||||||||||||
Belgium | 2 | |||||||||||||
Bulgaria | 1 | |||||||||||||
July 5 – Foxborough | ||||||||||||||
Italy | 2 | Third place playoff | ||||||||||||
Nigeria | 1 | |||||||||||||
July 9 – Foxborough | July 16 – Pasadena | |||||||||||||
Italy (a.e.t.) | 2 | |||||||||||||
Italy | 2 | Sweden | 4 | |||||||||||
July 2 – Washington | ||||||||||||||
Spain | 1 | Bulgaria | 0 | |||||||||||
Spain | 3 | |||||||||||||
Switzerland | 0 | |||||||||||||
Germany | Belgium |
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Spain | 3–0 | Switzerland |
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Hierro 15' Luis Enrique 74' Begiristain 86' (pen.) | Report |
Spain | Switzerland |
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A quick goal by Dahlin in the first half and two second half goals by K. Andersson saw Sweden go through to the quarterfinals. The Saudi players could answer with just one goal scored by Al-Ghesheyan 5 minutes from the end. [1]
Saudi Arabia | 1–3 | Sweden |
---|---|---|
Al-Ghesheyan 85' | Report | Dahlin 6' K. Andersson 51', 88' |
Saudi Arabia | Sweden |
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Two quick goals by Dumitrescu and one more by Hagi in the second half sealed the victory for Romanians. After Batistuta's penalty kick and Balbo's rebound Argentina attacked desperately but couldn't score for the third time. [2] [3]
Romania | Argentina |
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Netherlands | 2–0 | Republic of Ireland |
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Bergkamp 11' Jonk 41' | Report |
Netherlands | Republic of Ireland |
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This was the third time that Brazil defeated the host nation of tournament, after Sweden in 1958 and Chile in 1962 (coincidentally, on these three occasions Brazil became world champion). Since the kick off, Brazil set the pace, controlling ball possession and playing it on United States field. Left-back Leonardo was the main source of attacking, but at last minute of the first half, on a ball disput just by sideline, he threw his elbow on Tab Ramos' jaw, breaking it, knocking the North American down and being sent off. Later, Leonardo would be expelled out of the World Cup.
On the second half, Carlos Alberto Parreira put right-back Cafu on the left-back, benching Zinho. Even with one man down, Brazil kept the pace. At 72th minute, Romário recovery a ball possession on midfield, ran to opposite box and delivered it to Bebeto, who shoot just between Tony Meola and the post, giving Brazil the lead and the victory.
Brazil | 1–0 | United States |
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Bebeto 72' | Report |
Brazil | United States |
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Nigeria | Italy |
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Mexico | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Bulgaria |
---|---|---|
García Aspe 18' (pen.) | Report | Stoichkov 6' |
Penalties | ||
García Aspe Bernal Rodríguez Suárez | 1–3 | Balakov Genchev Borimirov Letchkov |
Mexico | Bulgaria |
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Italy | Spain |
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Netherlands | Brazil |
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Bulgaria | Germany |
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Romania | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Sweden |
---|---|---|
Răducioiu 88', 101' | Report | Brolin 78' K. Andersson 115' |
Penalties | ||
Răducioiu Hagi Lupescu Petrescu Dumitrescu Belodedici | 4–5 | Mild K. Andersson Brolin Ingesson R. Nilsson Larsson |
Romania | Sweden |
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Bulgaria | Italy |
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Sweden | Brazil |
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Sweden | Bulgaria |
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Brazil | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Italy |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
Márcio Santos Romário Branco Dunga | 3–2 | Baresi Albertini Evani Massaro R. Baggio |
Brazil | Italy |
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The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988. Despite soccer's relative lack of popularity in the host nation, the tournament was the most financially successful in World Cup history. It broke tournament records with overall attendance of 3,587,538 and an average of 68,991 per game, figures that stand unsurpassed as of 2022 despite the expansion of the competition from 24 to 32 teams starting with the 1998 World Cup.
Group A of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first matches were played June 18, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 26, 1994.
Group B of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 19, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 28, 1994.
Group C of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 17, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 27, 1994.
Group D of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 21, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 30, 1994.
Group E of the 1994 FIFA World Cup was one of six groups of four teams competing at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The first match was played June 18, 1994, and the final games took place simultaneously on June 28, 1994. The group consisted of Italy, Republic of Ireland, Mexico, and Norway. Mexico won the group on goals scored. Ireland and Italy also progressed to the knockout rounds, having finished with identical records and the Irish team qualifying in second place as a result of their victory against the Italians. The Italians qualified as one of the best-scoring third place teams. Norway's shortcomings in attack ultimately let them down, and they exited the tournament with only one goal. It is the only group in World Cup history in which all four teams finished with the same number of points and goal difference.
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