This weekend, D.C. United returns to where it all began 30 seasons ago, traveling to San Jose to face the Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Sunday, April 6 at 5:00 PM ET. This match marks the 30th anniversary of the inaugural Major League Soccer game, which saw these two clubs meet on April 6, 1996. As the first match in MLS history, it signified the start of a new era for American soccer, following the 1994 World Cup. Now, three decades later, D.C. United’s legacy remains a cornerstone of MLS, having quickly established itself as one of the league’s most successful clubs with multiple championships and star players. The Black-and-Red’s style of play inspired generations, laying the foundation for a league rich in history and tradition.
To celebrate MLS's 30th season, D.C. United legends Jeff Agoos, Shawn Medved, John Harkes, and Marco Etcheverry will be honored at halftime, alongside players from the 1996 San Jose Clash. On the San Jose sidelines, former D.C. United Head Coach Bruce Arena now leads the Earthquakes as head coach and sporting director.
We caught up with Marco “El Diablo” Etcheverry to hear his thoughts on the inaugural MLS match in 1996, his eight seasons with D.C. United, and the lasting legacy the club has built.
Etcheverry's time with D.C. United was transformative, solidifying his place as a club and league legend. Joining the Black-and-Red in 1996, Etcheverry immediately made his mark helping propel D.C. United into success in MLS' early years. The Bolivian midfielder, known for his tenacity and creativity, led D.C. United to the first-ever MLS Cup Championship in 1996 and helped the club win eight trophies during his tenure, including three MLS Cups (1996, 1997, 1999). A four-time MLS Best XI selection from 1996 to 1999, Etcheverry was also named 1998 MLS MVP. His exceptional passing and leadership on the field shaped the club’s identity in its early years, with his winning mentality still inspiring future generations of players and fans.
You signed with D.C. United in 1996, what made you come to the Black-and-Red and take on the new challenges of being a founding club in a new professional league in the United States?
"I saw it as a new challenge. It caught my attention that the biggest country in the world and the number one country in the world didn't have an established professional soccer league. I said, I want to be part of that story and create that story."
Looking back at that first match on April 6, 1996, against the San Jose Clash, what do you remember most vividly about that day?
"Honestly, it was the Eric Wynalda goal. Although it wasn't beneficial for us and we lost 1-0, it was an outstanding goal. It was late in the match with only a couple of minutes left and the crowd went crazy. The excitement from all the fans and the way the stadium erupted was incredible."
Did you think that after that match you would go on to create such a lasting legacy and take D.C. United to new heights, winning eight trophies?
"When I came, I honestly felt like we had a great team with a lot of solid players but we ended up losing the first eight games of the season. Once we made some adjustments and started to build some chemistry, we couldn't be beaten and ended up winning the first ever MLS Cup in 1996. Then continued to establish ourselves as a winning organization."
From your perspective as a club legend, how did that first match shape the history of D.C. United and the legacy you guys built?
"It was monumental. Bruce Arena was a great and intelligent person to lead the team. He came to me and said that he had built a team around me so that I would feel comfortable to develop as a player. At first, we went through difficult moments in the first eight matches but after the team got into a rhythm, we didn't lose."
Talk to us about how important it was to be able to come to a club like D.C. United and helping grow the sport of soccer here in Washington DC as well as the US as a whole?
"When I was thinking of coming, they said Washington was a possibility because of the big Bolivian community. And to be honest, what I saw when I arrived at the Washington National Airport, which was the old name back then, the airport was completely filled with Bolivian's. It honestly shocked me. I remember Julio Iglesias daughter was on my flight there so I thought all those people were for her. To my surprise, when I came out I see all the Bolivian and D.C. United flags. There was an enormous amount of Bolivian's there that almost filled the entire airport. The way I was received was honestly incredible."
What is the most memorable moment you have during your time here at D.C. United? Is there a match that stands out or any teammates that help you along your journey?
"I always considered Jaime [Moreno] a younger brother to me. His arrival was very important because we had a great connection which started in 1991 when he was first called up by Bolivia. Throughout the years we shared a lot of matches together on the Bolivian national team so his arrival was something very special. Bruce Arena was also another extraordinary and influential person. I always had a good relationship with all the coaching and technical staff. They treated me spectacularly. Another was Thomas Rongen who took me to the U-20 US national team as a coach. Thomas and Bruce are people who helped me tremendously and made me feel comfortable. Along with Jaime Moreno, who was part of my story on the Bolivian national team but also here at D.C. United.
In terms of most memorable moments, it has to be defeating Vasco da Gama in the 1998 Copa Interamericana. To be able to beat a team that just won the Copa Libertadores and who had faced Real Madrid two weeks prior, it was unforgettable. We beat the best team in the America's making D.C. United in a way the best team in the America's"
Talk to us about how you were able to cultivate a lasting legacy here at D.C. United and who helped you achieve this (players/coaches)?
"To me, I always had the utmost respect for the organization I played for and defended it with my life. When I came here I had that same mentality. In fact, I made a promise to our beloved Kevin Payne, who isn't with us anymore but was like a father to me, that I would not play for any other team if it wasn't D.C. United. That when my time comes to leave the club that I was going to retire and that's exactly what happened. Seeing Bruce Arena and Kevin Payne cry at my farewell press conference was a special moment for me."
What did it mean for you to play for D.C. United and how great is it to be able to think back and say you were one of the pillars to setting up the club and MLS as a whole for success?
"It meant everything to me. Arriving here in the United States, I had already seen DC as a place where I wanted to be. I saw the city, the passionate fans, my family and I felt at home here, so I felt like it was an important and easy decision. D.C. United is my home and I felt welcomed here for the eight seasons I wore the Black-and-Red."
