When Pele and Moore teamed up to celebrate USA independence
In 1976, Bobby Moore and Pele joined forces to play for Team America against the world's best during USA's 200th anniversary celebrations.
Bobby Moore and Pele played for Team America in 1976 Bicentennial Cup
Brazil, England and Italy also took part in the four-team tournament
High-profile event was part of America's 200th anniversary celebrations
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is expected to form a central part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations, which includes a high-profile knockout stage match in Philadelphia ― the birthplace of independence — on 4 July.
But this will not be the first time that the world's greatest footballers have played a key role in the nationwide commemorations of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
In 1976, global icons Giorgio Chinaglia, Bobby Moore and Pele — all then playing in the North American Soccer League (NASL) — joined forces for Team America as part of the four-team, round-robin Bicentennial Cup across the United States.
The other participants were Brazil, England and Italy, with luminaries such as Claudio Gentile, Kevin Keegan, Rivellino, Marco Tardelli, Zico and Dino Zoff showing off their sublime skills to an enthralled audience.
In front of enthusiastic crowds, matches took place at iconic venues such as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Seattle Kingdome, RFK Stadium in Washington DC and Yankee Stadium in New York.
Having famously battled against each other at the 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™ for Brazil and England respectively, the sight of Pele and Moore playing together in red, white and blue uniforms with 'USA' emblazoned on their chests was a sight to behold.
It was also a rare chance for USA players such as goalkeeper Bob Rigby and defender Bobby Smith to test themselves against some of the world's greatest stars and help prepare for upcoming qualifiers for Argentina 1978.
But the hastily-assembled Team America squad ― which in the end did not include NASL stars George Best and Rodney Marsh who opted out of the tournament ― struggled against their illustrious and well-drilled opponents.
They opened with a 4-0 defeat to Italy, with future legendary coach Fabio Capello opening the scoring. Team America then lost 2-0 to Brazil in Seattle — with Pele refusing to play against his home country — and ended with a 3-1 defeat to England, with Scottish winger Stewart Scullion scoring their only goal of the competition.
With three consecutive victories, including a 4-1 demolition of Italy at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, the young Brazil squad won the tournament in style and helped rebound from their disappointing display at West Germany 1974. “We are ready to get to the top of the world again," Brazil coach Osvaldo Brandao declared to the New York Times.
The Bicentennial Cup was designed in part to convince football's powerbrokers that the USA could host a FIFA World Cup one day. With the global showpiece coming back to the States 50 years on, the groundbreaking tournament may not be widely remembered, but its rich legacy lives on to this day.