Eric Wynalda’s New Book Relives a Defining World Cup Moment and Gives Back to the Game
The upcoming release gives readers a front-row seat to one of the most iconic moments in American soccer — while connecting a Cal South alumnus’s story to the continued growth of the game in Southern California.
Eric Wynalda — a Cal South alum — shares the unfiltered story behind one of the most iconic moments in U.S. Soccer history. A portion of proceeds from the book will go back to Cal South, supporting the next generation of players. Go inside the mind behind the legendary 1994 World Cup free kick — the “whiteboard in the mind” that defined a career. From late-night battles with the Federation to locker room moments the cameras never captured, this is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the grit, pressure, and pursuit of “soccer nirvana” at the highest level.
Readers will go inside the mind behind the strike, understand the preparation and instinct that made it possible, and get the raw truth about the moments the cameras missed — from locker room tension to the behind-the-scenes battles that came with helping grow the American game on the world stage.
A World Cup Story with Cal South Roots
The release carries special meaning for the Southern California soccer community. Eric Wynalda is a Cal South alumnus and was part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup when the tournament was last played in the United States.
As the World Cup returns to the U.S., the book offers fans a chance to revisit a defining chapter in American soccer through the perspective of someone who lived it — and whose journey remains connected to the game’s growth here at home.
What’s Inside the Book
From the “whiteboard in the mind” behind the famous goal to the late-night battles with the Federation and the unforgettable locker room stories from that era, the book dives into the pressure, politics, personality, and pure exhilaration of doing the business when it mattered most.
Eric Wynalda, a Cal South alumnus, will donate a portion of the proceeds from the book to Cal South to support the continued growth of the game in Southern California.
Supporting the next generation of the gameMore Than a Memoir
This is more than a sports memoir. It is a firsthand account of holding your nerve with the world watching, navigating the highs and lows of elite competition, and helping push American soccer forward during a pivotal moment in its history.
For Cal South families, alumni, and fans of the game, the release is both a look back at a historic World Cup moment and a reminder of the powerful connections between the sport’s past, present, and future in Southern California.
Preorder the Book
Reserve your copy and relive one of the defining moments in American soccer through the eyes of a Cal South alumnus who helped shape it.
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