The American Outlaws

The American Outlaws is a prominent United States supporters' organization associated with United States men's national soccer team, United States women's national soccer team, and broader United States soccer fandom. Founded in 2007, the group grew from regional chapters into a nationwide network that organizes travel, watch parties, and coordinated displays at international tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Olympic Games football tournament. The organization has influenced supporter culture in Major League Soccer and collegiate soccer while interacting with national institutions like U.S. Soccer Federation.

History

The group was established in the context of post-2006 FIFA World Cup interest in American soccer, with early chapters forming in cities including Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado, Dallas, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri. Founders drew inspiration from historic supporters' movements such as Tartan Army, Tifosi, and La Doce to create coordinated chants, banners, and travel programs for qualifiers and finals. Growth accelerated during the 2010s after the United States reached later stages of FIFA World Cup 2010 and FIFA World Cup 2014 qualification cycles, and membership expanded alongside the rise of Major League Soccer franchises like Seattle Sounders FC, Atlanta United FC, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, and New York Red Bulls. The American Outlaws organized national marches to support coaches and players in tournaments including the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, while collaborating with supporter groups from England national football team, Mexico national football team supporters, and other international alliances during friendlies and tournaments.

Organization and Structure

The national organization comprises a headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri with regional chapters across metropolitan areas such as Boston, Massachusetts, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, California, Houston, Texas, Miami, Florida, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leadership features a national board, chapter presidents, and volunteer coordinators who manage ticketing, travel, and security liaisons with venues like MetLife Stadium, CenturyLink Field, Rose Bowl Stadium, and Gillette Stadium. Membership tiers include general membership, travel membership, and supporter club partnerships with professional clubs like FC Cincinnati, New England Revolution, and Inter Miami CF. The AO maintains formal relationships with the U.S. Soccer Federation for accreditation and with tournament organizers such as CONCACAF and FIFA for seating allocations and fan zone operations. Internally, committees oversee merchandising, chant development, legal compliance, and youth outreach programs linked to organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer Foundation.

Supporter Culture and Activities

The American Outlaws promote organized chanting, flag displays, tifo productions, and coordinated marches, borrowing traditions from groups such as Barras Bravas, Ultras, and Green Brigade. Regular activities include watch parties at bars and supporter clubs in cities with notable venues like The Big House, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and Providence Park; away-travel caravans to qualifier matches in stadiums such as Estadio Azteca and Azteca Stadium; and hosting fan festivals during major events like the FIFA World Cup 2014 and FIFA World Cup 2018. The AO publishes chant sheets, organizes supporter meetups with former players such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Mia Hamm at charity events, and coordinates with broadcasters including ESPN, FOX Sports, and Univision for coverage. The group supports grassroots initiatives, partnering with MLS WORKS, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and local academies to fund youth clinics, scholarships, and community outreach.

Notable Events and Campaigns

Significant campaigns include national travel initiatives to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the fundraising and fan mobilization for FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil, and organized support during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 in Canada and FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 in France. The AO spearheaded ticket drives for CONCACAF matches in Mexico City, San Pedro Sula, and Toronto, and coordinated fan marches during high-profile friendlies against teams such as Brazil national football team, Argentina national football team, and England national football team. Campaigns also addressed supporter representation with initiatives at CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 and advocacy for safe supporter sections at venues like Red Bull Arena and Children's Mercy Park. Charitable campaigns have included fundraisers for disaster relief after events linked to Hurricane Maria, collaborations with Soccer Without Borders, and benefit matches featuring former professionals from MLS All-Stars.

Controversies and Criticism

The organization has faced criticism over incidents at matches, debates about song choices and political expression, and disputes with stadium authorities and local rival supporters such as ultras affiliated with Club América and Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Controversial episodes involved security interventions at matches held in venues like Estadio Azteca, allegations of confrontations during friendlies against Mexico national football team, and internal disagreements over chapter governance and financial transparency. Critics have invoked comparisons to international supporter controversies involving groups like Hooligan firms and called for clearer codes of conduct; in response, the AO implemented formal supporter policies, issued public statements after high-profile incidents, and established disciplinary procedures aligned with standards used by organizations such as FIFA and CONCACAF.

Category:Association football supporters' associations