Temple University Athletics
From Philadelphia to the World Cup: Temple’s Connection to Team USA Through Soccer Legend Walter Bahr
11.25.22 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA — Ahead of a highly anticipated World Cup matchup between the United States and England on Friday, Nov. 25, Temple University has a unique tie to USA's storied rivalry.
Former Temple player and coach Walter Bahr was an anchor on the US team that defeated a highly-regarded England squad 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup, which is still regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament. His career in soccer went on to become foundational in the success of the sport in Philadelphia and in the United States.
Bahr played as a defender for Temple from 1942 to 1944, earning All-American honors in 1944. He went on to later coach the Owls from 1971 to 1974, accumulating a 20-12-10 record — Temple went 8-2-5 in 1973 and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The US national team selected Bahr in 1949, the same year that his goal against Cuba helped the team to qualify for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. Matched up against a juggernaut England squad, Bahr and the United States were all but counted out in the World Cup matchup. In the 37th minute, a shot from Bahr was deflected into the goal by United States teammate Joe Gaetjens to stun the English. The United States went on to win 1-0, a final mark that is still considered the country's biggest upset on the world soccer stage. The team's miracle victory was portrayed in the movie and novel The Game of Their Lives.
Aside from his key role in the 1950 World Cup, Bahr also played in the Olympics for Team USA in 1948.
A Philadelphia native, Bahr played a central role in the soccer landscape in the city in the 1950s and 60s. He played for the Philadelphia Nationals of the American Soccer League in the mid 1950s, winning four championships. Bahr went on to have a prominent career on the sidelines, coaching the Philadelphia Spartans from 1958 to 1963 and the Philadelphia Ukranians from 1964 to 1969.
After leading the Owls for three seasons, Bahr later coached at Penn State from 1974 to 1988, taking the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament 12 times. Bahr was elected into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame's second class in 1971 and earned a spot amongst his USA teammates in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1976.
