John Harkes, a player on the United States' 1994 World Cup team, believes the current men's national team has an opportunity to elevate soccer's standing in the U.S. by reaching the World Cup quarterfinals. Harkes described the potential achievement as a "full-circle moment," linking it to the growth the sport experienced when his team advanced to the knockout stage on home soil.
The U.S. men's national team is on the verge of making history, with a potential quarterfinal appearance in the ongoing World Cup marking the furthest the team has advanced since 2002. Harkes, whose 1994 team is the subject of FOX ONE's "Summer of '94" docuseries, shared his perspective on the current squad's performance and its significance.
"We're always trying to tell those stories the right way and have those platforms. The best way to do that is to win," Harkes told Fox News Digital. "And now we have guys that are competing and playing all over the world with great talent, great skill, and we're seeing them now. But the emotions that come out in the stadium at these games are unreal for me to really control. But I love it. I'm just so excited and happy that this is happening."
Harkes acknowledged the pressure that comes with representing the U.S. and contributing to the game's development in his home country. He noted that the team's success, including a recent 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, mirrors the momentum his 1994 team built.
"When you do something like that, that wakes up a nation," Harkes added.
Beyond the on-field success, Harkes, who now serves as a technical director at McLean Youth Soccer and an assistant coach for the U.S. U15 team, emphasized the importance of developing responsible coaches who can mentor young players. He advocates for coaches to be positive role models, focusing on life skills, clear communication, and fostering a love for the game.
"We are building platforms for these kids to not just have fun and compete but to have life skills. We need to be mentors. It is a mentorship that you take on, and when you take on that responsibility, you are there for the player, you are there for the kids, and you're also there for the parents too," Harkes said. "We're in a really good situation right now across the game in this country where coaches need to step in with full responsibility, clear communication, and be good role models."
He expressed concern over a "win-at-all-cost mentality" among some coaches, which he believes can detract from the enjoyment and development of young athletes. Harkes stressed that the focus should be on camaraderie, understanding sacrifice, and building relationships within a team.
Recalling the impact of the 1994 World Cup, Harkes stated, "That summer of '94, it was incredible. It was unprecedented what we did in '94, to be honest with you... And we've got this opportunity now, we've created so much passion around the men's game. These stories are now preserved from the past. People know who they are. We carry that forward into the game today and what they're doing on the field. It's just a perfect match. It really is. So a lot of success is coming out of that. And I'm really excited about what we've done in the past and what we're doing now. So let's keep supporting our U.S. team and push them on as far as they can go."