The World Cup finals went to the USA, which despite being a country more interested in their own brand of football, put on an excellent show, with the biggest collective crowds ever for a tournament.
Bulgaria were the stars, knocking out France with a last-minute goal to qualify for USA '94, then beating Germany en route to third place, having never previously won a World Cup finals match.
Maradona was sent home after a positive drug test, sweltering heat tested all players, while sadly Colombian Andres Escobar was murdered on his return home after scoring an own goal against the United States.
USA themselves made the second round, as did Saudi Arabia, but in the end it was two footballing powerhouses - Brazil and Italy - who made the final, with the South Americans claiming their fourth title in the first final decided on penalties.
Cameroon's Roger Milla became the oldest goal-scorer at the finals in the same game in which Russia's Oleg Salenko scored a record five goals in a 6-1 thrashing. Salenko won the Golden Boot, despite his team failing to progress to the second round, alongside Bulgaria's superstar Hristo Stoitchkov.
Brazil held a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in the quarters before progressing 3-2 in the match of the tournament and then went on to beat Sweden 1-0 in the semis.
Italy were lucky to progress as far as it did. Down to 10 men and with only 90 seconds left against Nigeria in the second round, Robert Baggio levelled, then in extra time his second gave the Azzurri a 2-1 win.
Baggio then scored the winner against Spain in the quarters and struck a double in his side's 2-1 win over Bulgaria, who had knocked out champions Germany in the quarters.
The final was meant to be a contest of the two best teams in history, both with three trophies and a host of stars. But after 120 goalless and rather uneventful minutes, penalties decided the final for the first, and so far only, time.
Despite a sensational tournament, Baggio became the villain in the final, missing his spot kick to hand Brazil victory. The final was a sad and somewhat unfair end for Baggio, football fans and an exciting tournament.
