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ELKINS -- Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final carried an unexpected connection to Davis & Elkins College and two alumni who helped shape American soccer for more than three decades.
At the center of that story is the late Hank Steinbrecher, a 1971 Davis & Elkins graduate whose leadership helped transform soccer in the United States during one of the sport's most important eras.
Steinbrecher served as secretary general of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1990 to 2000 and played a prominent role in bringing the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States. The tournament elevated soccer's profile nationwide and helped create momentum for the launch of Major League Soccer in 1996.
Working alongside Steinbrecher during that period was his close friend and former Davis & Elkins teammate Bill Nuttall, a 1970 graduate and current member of the College's Board of Trustees.
Nuttall was a standout goalkeeper on Davis & Elkins' 1968 and 1970 NAIA national championship teams. He later served as general manager of the U.S. Men's National Team as the country prepared to host the 1994 World Cup.
Together, Steinbrecher and Nuttall helped guide American soccer through a transformational period. The United States advanced to the Round of 16 in the 1994 tournament, a performance that helped change perceptions of the sport in the country.
More than 30 years later, Nuttall played another role in connecting an international team to the United States.
After relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nuttall helped position the city as a potential training base for the 2026 World Cup. Working with local leaders, Baylor School officials and tournament representatives, he assisted in the effort that brought Spain's national team to Chattanooga.
Spain trained in the city throughout its World Cup run before defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final to claim the championship.
The victory gave Nuttall another connection to soccer's biggest stage and made Chattanooga part of Spain's journey to the title.
Steinbrecher, who died in March 2025, is remembered as one of the architects of modern American soccer. His work helped establish the United States as a major host for international competition and strengthened the organizational foundation of the sport.
Nuttall's career has reflected a similar commitment. After his All-America career at Davis & Elkins, he played professionally in the North American Soccer League before moving into coaching and administration.
The College's connection to the World Cup also includes Glenn Davis, a 1983 graduate who completed his eighth World Cup as a broadcaster during the 2026 tournament.
From the playing field to the front office and broadcast booth, Davis & Elkins alumni have made a lasting contribution to the growth of soccer in the United States and around the world.
Spain's championship marked the latest chapter in that legacy.
More than three decades after Steinbrecher and Nuttall helped elevate American soccer ahead of the 1994 World Cup, Davis & Elkins alumni were again connected to one of the sport's defining moments.