On the night prior to the most important game of his young national team career on Nov. 18, 1989, young Tony Meola couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t his nerves, but the party going on near the Trinidad Hilton in Port of Spain, where the team was staying. Trinidad & Tobago fans — soccer and non-supporters — were celebrating the Soca Warriors going to the 1990 World Cup.

Except there was one slight problem: Trinidad had not qualified yet. It still had to play the United States and record at least a draw to book its ticket. The noise was bad enough that U.S. team officials “came around with ear plugs for everybody because we couldn’t sleep the night before the game,” Meola said. The hotel also was known as the upside down Hilton. The first floor was the top and travelers were checked in on the third floor.