With the 2018 FIFA World Cup less than one year away, NAIJ.com takes a look at some of the most memorable things to have happened at one of the biggest sport events in the world.
The focus now is the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA which is still fondly remembered by fans as one of the best ever.
The Super Eagles made their World Cup debut at the tournament while was won by Brazil who defeated Italy on finals in the final.
USA 94 was memorable also because it was a tournament has had many first and NAIJ.com recounts them.
The Super Eagles made a first ever appearance at the 1994 World Cup
1. A win equalled three points
Previously, a win was two points but from this tournament, a win equalled three points.
2. Deliberate back-passes could not be picked
For the first time back passes could not be picked up with the hands by the goalkeeper as FIFA hoped to encourage attacking football.
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3. First goalkeeper to be sent off
Italy’s Gianluca Pagliuca became the first goalkeeper to be sent off during a World Cup match after handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 21st minute against Norway on 23 June.
4. A player with one yellow card in the group stage had it cancelled for knockout rounds
For the first time, if a player had been shown a single yellow card during the tournament’s group stage, it was erased for the knockout stages. However two yellow cards still counted for a suspension.
5. No commercials during English TV broadcasting in the USA
The USA was used to having commercials during sport games breaks in basketball, baseball but this did not happen throughout the tournament.
6. FIFA anthem used at the beginning of matches
Players and officials entered the pitch at the start of matches to the sound of the new FIFA anthem, composed by Franz Lambert.
7. Referee jerseys had different colours
For the first time referees could wears jerseys of different colours unlike the traditional black attire in previous years.
8. Numbers added to the front of shirts; names on the back
While numbers were introduced in 1954, the World Cup in USA was the first time squad numbers were also printed on the front
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9. First World Cup match to be played indoors
The Pontiac Silverdome hosted the first FIFA World Cup match to be played indoors on 18 June when hosts the USA held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 73,425.
10. Five goals in a game and the oldest goalscorer
Russian forward Oleg Salenko became the first player to score five times in a single World Cup game as his side won 6-1 win over Cameroon who boasted Roger Milla who was the the oldest player (at 42-years-old) to score in a World Cup match.
Milla's team-mate Rigobert Song had become the youngest player, at 17, to be sent off in a World Cup for a rash challenge on Brazil’s Bebeto just a few days earlier.
11. Germany played as a United nation for the first time ever
For the first time ever Germany played as a United nation not as West Germany or East Germany. The Berlin wall had actually fallen November 1989.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng