<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 1990 1998 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, held in nine cities across the United States from 17 June to 17 July 1994 . The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on 4 July 1988 . Despite the host nation's lack of football tradition, the tournament was the most financially successful in World Cup history; aided by the high - capacity stadia in the United States, it broke the World Cup average attendance record with nearly 69,000 spectators per game, a mark that still stands . The total attendance of nearly 3.6 million for the final tournament remains the highest in World Cup history, despite the expansion of the competition from 24 to 32 teams (and from 52 to 64 games), which was first introduced at the 1998 World Cup and is the current format . </P> <P> Brazil won the tournament after beating Italy 3--2 in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California near Los Angeles, after the game had ended 0--0 after extra time . It was the first World Cup final to be decided on penalties . The victory made Brazil the first nation to win four World Cup titles . Greece, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia made their first appearances at the tournament, as did Russia, following the breakup of the Soviet Union . A united Germany team took part in the tournament, as the country was reunified in 1990, a few months after West Germany's victory in the 1990 World Cup . </P> <P> Three teams, one African, one Asian, and one European, made their debuts at the 1994 tournament . Nigeria qualified from the African zone alongside Cameroon and Morocco as CAF was granted three spots as a result of the strong performances by African teams in 1990 . In the Asian zone, Saudi Arabia qualified for the first time by topping the final round group ahead of South Korea as both edged out Japan, who were close to making their own World Cup debut, but were denied by Iraq in what became known as the "Agony of Doha". The Japanese would not have to wait long, though, debuting in the 1998 tournament . In the European zone, Greece made their first World Cup appearance after topping a group from which Russia also qualified, competing independently for the first time after the dissolution of the Soviet Union . </P>

Who won the f.i.f.a world cup in 1994