RFK Stadium History
Though originally built in 1961 to house Washington, D.C.’s National Football League and Major League Baseball teams, RFK Stadium has become a cathedral of sorts for soccer in the United States.
Having served as a host venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1996 Summer Olympics, 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups, RFK has been a center piece of international soccer in the United States for more than two decades.
Outside those competitions, the U.S. MNT has its own storied history at the venue that dates back to a 1-1 draw with China on Oct. 6, 1977. The 22 Men’s National Team matches hosted at the old ground are more than any other stadium, and along the way some very memorable MNT moments have been made.
Here’s a few:
- Former captain Claudio Reyna’s standout arrival on the international scene in a 4-0 win over Mexico at the 1995 U.S. Cup.
- Joe-Max Moore’s late blast in a 1-0 upset over Argentina in 1999.
- Important World Cup qualifying victories against Guatemala in 1996 and 2000.
- Jonathan Bornstein’s dramatic stoppage time equalizer to eliminate Costa Rica from World Cup qualifying in 2009.
- And most recently, the team’s 4-3 win over then No. 2-ranked Germany in U.S. Soccer’s 2013 Centennial Celebration match.
Check out some of the best moments throughout the years at RFK Stadium.