The highly anticipated halftime show for the upcoming World Cup final, organized by Chris Martin, may evoke mixed reactions, but one American octogenarian will surely find joy in seeing Madonna and Shakira grace the pitch at MetLife Stadium next month.
During his tenure as chair and chief executive of the 1994 World Cup, Alan Rothenberg envisioned Whitney Houston performing during the final at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. However, FIFA intervened, insisting that the iconic singer remain off the field.
Rothenberg had even invited FIFA officials to witness the 1993 Super Bowl at the same California venue, where Michael Jackson captivated the audience during halftime. Despite this effort, FIFA remained steadfast in its refusal to allow Houston to perform.
The organization cited concerns about potential rain and the risk of damaging the pitch as their rationale, a point Rothenberg still disputes. Now, he can take satisfaction in the fact that his vision for an extravagant World Cup final show is finally coming to fruition 32 years later.
“Before 1994, the World Cup was essentially just a soccer tournament, with little fanfare beyond the passionate supporters,” Rothenberg explained. “We aimed to make 1994 a memorable event and wanted Whitney Houston to perform on the pitch at the final, but FIFA said no.”
“FIFA was unfamiliar with such concepts at the time and has since adopted similar ideas, but in 1994 they blocked Whitney from performing. Their reasoning was that if it rained—something highly unlikely in California in July—they didn’t want a stage in the center of the field.”
“Interestingly, the previous January, the Super Bowl took place at the Rose Bowl, featuring Michael Jackson’s halftime show. We invited top FIFA executives, and when they removed the stage from the midfield, we checked for any damaged or torn grass. There was none, yet FIFA still declined.”
“Ultimately, Whitney performed, but from the sidelines surrounded by numerous people. The audience in the stadium had difficulty determining where the music was coming from. This experience highlights our innovative spirit and how we transformed the World Cup’s presentation.”
While the opening day of the 1994 finals was overshadowed by another celebrity incident—the infamous O.J. Simpson car chase—the first World Cup held in the U.S. was free from the political controversies that have tainted this summer’s tournament buildup.
Rothenberg expresses some understanding for FIFA’s challenging task of maintaining a good relationship with the Trump administration, yet he has found some of Gianni Infantino’s comments to be cringeworthy.
“Politics has always been intertwined with World Cups, but not to the degree we’ve seen under President Trump,” he noted. “Some of Infantino’s remarks and actions have been embarrassing.”
“However, it seems that this embarrassment is deemed necessary to keep the government on board. The ultimate goal is to ensure a fantastic tournament, which sometimes requires extraordinary compromises.”
“This World Cup is particularly complicated due to various international geopolitical issues. Such challenges have always existed, but they have never been as intense as they are now.”
Rothenberg is less worried about issues like ICE raids, believing immigration officials will exercise restraint during the tournament.
“There was considerable speculation about ICE being active at this year’s Super Bowl and other major events, but in reality, not much occurred,” he stated.
“I suspect a similar situation will unfold at the World Cup. Remember, President Trump chairs the World Cup Committee, and I doubt he wants the tournament to be overshadowed by discussions of ICE enforcement. I believe they will maintain a low profile during the matches.”
Rothenberg secured his position for the 1994 World Cup after serving as president of U.S. Soccer for eight years and as the soccer commissioner for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He reflects on the remarkable evolution of the sport in the U.S. over the past four decades.
“When I was president in 1990, the federation operated out of a trailer in Colorado Springs, thanks to the U.S. Olympic Committee providing free rent. We had six or eight employees back then.
“Today, U.S. Soccer has just inaugurated a $300 million training facility and employs several hundred people. In 1990, the federation faced bankruptcy, but now it boasts hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. The transformation has been astounding.”
“Globalization was always going to elevate soccer to a major sport in America, but even I have been surprised by the recent surge in popularity. I hope the World Cup propels it to even greater heights.”
