Sports are a fundamental block of American culture, where baseball, football and yes, even NASCAR reign as kings in the world of sports. But as the most popular sport in the world takes center stage with the 2010 World Cup, soccer fans around the world are flocking to South Africa, where the World Cup is being held. Teams like England, South Africa, Portugal, Germany, and Mexico and their fans live and breathe for the sport; it is a major part of their culture.
But where does soccer rank in popularity among Americans as opposed to the rest of the population of the world?
Not very high. It may be because we have so many other sports taking the spotlight. But a club called The American Outlaws is trying to change the way people in the United States view the most popular sport in the world and potentially gain more support for Team USA.
The American Outlaws club, started off locally here in Lincoln, is dedicated to gaining support for soccer and Team USA in tournaments such as the World Cup. The club started when founders Korey Donahoo and Justin Bruken went to a match in 2007 and decided to create a club that would help organize soccer fans throughout the country. The Outlaws have about 3,000 members to date and have chapters throughout the nation from San Diego to New York City, along with many unofficial chapters; they even have an international chapter in Japan. The Outlaws’ idea grew to the coasts by word of mouth at U.S. matches and from their website.
Organization is of great importance to the Outlaws, who hold viewing parties of the games at local bars and venues; Lincoln Outlaws chapter’s home base is Captain Jack’s, located at 12th and P Streets in the Haymarket. Finding a home bar was somewhat difficult – the Outlaws asked other sports bars who declined because they weren’t interested in showing soccer games. The collaboration between the Outlaws and Captain Jack’s has been successful, with anywhere from 40 to 100 people showing up at the bar to watch the games. The Outlaws hosted a viewing party for the USA’s first game against England on June 12, an anticipated match-up that hasn’t been seen since 1950, when America beat England. Because this was a highly anticipated game for both the USA and the Outlwas, they decided to have a viewing party at Captain Jack’s and also set up about eight screens to show the game near the pedestrian bridge at 8th and S Streets.
Ben Cohoon, who is also a founding member of the American Outlaws, discussed soccer’s popularity in the U.S. and the support of fans.
“It’s a very popular sport in the world, and it’s popular among the youth, but it’s sill perceived as uncool,” Cohoon said. “But our name… you kind of feel like an outlaw if you play or like soccer. It’s not a mainstream sport.”
Cohoon also said that there are fans out there that support the USA, but it’s not like Nebraska football where the entire community comes out to support the team. Fan support is very important, as USA soccer player Frankie Hejduk said before the kickoff against Ghana in the 2006 World Cup: “Please be as loud as you can. You don’t know how much of a difference it makes to the players.”
The World Cup is being televised by ESPN, and the Outlaws are hoping the exposure of soccer through the sports channel will help the popularity of soccer grow in the United States.
“Another big part of the growing popularity of soccer is that more colleges are starting to have soccer programs,” Cohoon said. “Also, ESPN and Fox Sports have provided more coverage on soccer matches in the US and the European leagues, which in turn brings more exposure to the game.”
Emotions were running high in this match – not just for the players but for the fans as well. England and the U.S. are the two highest seats in their group. England wanted to make its debut in 2010 as a team that could win, and the U.S. team has been plagued with injuries in recent years. Fans at Saturday’s event were ready to cheer on their team with faces painted “TEAM USA” and wearing American flag headbands and crazy wigs.
“Fans are loud, rowdy, sing, and get really into the game and they’re very intense about it,” Cohoon said. “Plays happen so quickly that you have to pay close attention to the match, because one play in soccer can make the game.”
When the U.S. and England squared off for this match, emotions were running high not just for the players but for the fans as well, with the memory of the 1950s match in which the U.S. stunned an English team that was supposed to be World Cup Champion by winning 1-0. At the Outlaws event, where the weather was sticky and hot, fans still came out in full form to support their team and hope for a win. A few England fans even joined the party.
Check out the American Outlaws’ website at TheAmericanOutlaws.com.