World Cup 94 chief Alan Rothenberg: ‘We wanted Whitney Houston on the pitch but Fifa said no’
Summary
Alan Rothenberg, who led the 1994 World Cup in the US, wanted Whitney Houston to perform on the field during the final but FIFA refused due to concerns about rain and field damage. Rothenberg believes this decision was overly cautious, and he sees today's high-profile World Cup entertainment as a continuation of his original vision.Key Facts
- Alan Rothenberg was chair and CEO of the 1994 World Cup held in the US.
- He wanted Whitney Houston to perform on the pitch during the final at the Rose Bowl stadium.
- FIFA said no, citing possible rain and potential damage to the field.
- Rothenberg invited FIFA officials to see the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show at the same venue, which had a stage on the field with no damage.
- Whitney Houston performed on the sidelines instead, where fans had trouble locating the music.
- Rothenberg says the 1994 World Cup started a more entertaining style of presentation for the tournament.
- He commented on the political challenges for FIFA under President Trump's administration but expects immigration enforcement at the World Cup to be limited.
- Rothenberg was previously president of US Soccer before heading the 1994 event.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.