Red, white and hell yeah: How the American Outlaws became the heartbeat of U.S. Soccer

· Yahoo Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Elvis Presley lives, and right now he's talking to Wonder Woman and a bald eagle in a gravel parking lot in North Carolina. All around Elvis, hundreds of American soccer fans of all ages, demographics and blood alcohol levels are snacking on hot dogs. Over near one fence, a drum circle is warming up, rat-a-tat-tats filling the sunny afternoon air. Red, white and blue is everywhere, from innumerable Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie jerseys, to dyed beards and wigs, to a T-shirt that simply reads, "WTF IS A KILOMETER?"

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Welcome to the land of the American Outlaws. America is co-hosting this year's World Cup, but the Outlaws are the ones who are bringing the party to every stadium, festival, bar and brewery they possibly can, from sea to shining sea. 

Much like the Avengers, the American Outlaws began with an idea — an idea for a place that American soccer fans, and would-be soccer-fans, could gather, a place where they could enjoy their love of the beautiful game, a place where they could say the word "soccer" and not be exiled, a place where they could navigate the intricacies of international football systems. 

That idea, born in a basement in Lincoln, Nebraska, now literally spans the entire country, with more than 30,000 Outlaws and 200 chapters dedicated to spreading the word and the love about American soccer. Look in the stands of any U.S. team match, men and women alike, and you'll see them, standing, chanting, celebrating with constant exuberance. 

In a time of American division, they're a symbol of unity, a celebration of all things red, white and blue, from the noble to the ridiculous. 

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"There's no way everyone here voted the same way," says Bryan Friers, one of hundreds of American Outlaws supporters in the Charlotte parking lot, "but we can all be here together today." 

He's standing with high school friend River Young amid a fantastic cross-section of American humanity, from families with young kids to bands of Gen Z soccer fanatics to boomers still wearing American-flag headbands. The camaraderie is instant, the joy is evident, and the Americana is everywhere, from overalls to capes to tattoos to wigs. 

Anthony Williamson, who regularly drums with the Orlando FC drum corps, is checking his equipment preparing to lead a pre-match hype circle. "This is the best," he says as a chant leader who goes by the nom de soccer of "Ulysses S. Chant" begins teaching the assembled crowd the new chants of the day. In a few minutes, they'll gather the Outlaws for a gloriously noisy march to the stadium. 

The American Outlaws party is just getting started today, but there's always room for more. 

Chris Brady of the United States and the American outlaws during the international friendly match between United States and Senegal.John Dorton/USSF via Getty Images

The Outlaws came to life in the early 2000s, when founders Korey Donahoo, Justin Brunken and Ben Cohoon bonded over their love of soccer, and their realization that America had no true supporters' group to welcome and energize fans of national soccer. (The men's national team itself was struggling through one of its many well-documented identity crises, so this was not exactly a shock.) The three friends adopted some iconic American imagery, a classic cowboy bandanna, and the Outlaws were born. 

The Outlaws debuted with that most American of traditions: a road trip. A busload of roughly 60 fans traveled from Nebraska to Chicago to watch the United States challenge Brazil in 2007. That kicked off a traveling party that now encompasses not just the game itself but a pregame gathering, a night-before party, and year-round friendship and camaraderie. 

Starting with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 installment in Brazil, where the Outlaws arrived en masse, the group has traveled in massive packs that make Steelers and Cowboys fans look like homebodies. The cost, both financially and logistically, is considerable, and the USMNT players have long supported their own supporters. 

"When the team comes over and claps and thanks our section at the end of a match, that's huge," says American Outlaws operations manager Whitney Zaleski, "to see that they recognize what we're putting in and the energy that we're putting in."

Run almost entirely by volunteers, the American Outlaws are open to anyone with a love of soccer and a willingness to send in $30. The Outlaws now boast chapters from Anchorage to Miami, from Honolulu to Maine. Some chapters are massive and well-organized, others are small gatherings at a local watering hole, but all share a love of soccer in general and the United States teams in particular. It's a love that's taken on new resonance now that the World Cup is coming to American shores. 

"When we go to these World Cups, these nations, leagues, friendlies abroad, we're welcomed with open arms. The locals there are showing us a good time," says D.C.-based American Outlaws member Donald Wine. "It's our turn. … This World Cup is about showcasing our culture and we have this great opportunity to welcome fans from all around the country, that's what we feel our duty is. And we're ready to accept it."

In a very real sense, then, the Outlaws represent the United States, and it's a responsibility the group takes seriously. In a sport where racist, homophobic chants and hooligan-style lawbreaking make headlines, the Outlaws strive to promote inclusivity, so much so that they have a specified Code of Conduct page on their site. 

"The American Outlaws will not tolerate any sort of hatred or attacks on other people for who they are, whether in the form of physical or verbal assault, clothing or signage," the Outlaws' conduct credo reads. "It is of the utmost importance that people can cheer, sing and exist as they are in our section, around the stadium, in chapter bars and anywhere in the world with comfort and free of threat."

The Outlaws are now large enough that they've built their own charitable arm, AO Impact. Focused on the number 11 — the number of players on the pitch — AO Impact asks for just $11, to start, to help spread the word of soccer to local communities across the country. AO Impact works with local nonprofits around the country to build and maintain soccer facilities with the goal of exposing kids to the beautiful game, with the hope and expectation that they'll continue to love it when they grow up. 

It's all part of the supporter-centric focus that the Outlaws espouse, with the guiding philosophy of giving the players on the pitch the best possible foundation for success, while at the same time making sure fans can appreciate all that soccer has to offer. 

"One of our biggest [philosophies] is accessibility to fans," says Zaleski. "Accessibility on the financial front (for ticket prices), but also accessibility for members. We try to educate. A lot of people don't know how the ticketing process works for the World Cup or for international games."

Plus, she adds, there's always one overarching Outlaws goal: "Helping members and fans alike get the chance to have a good time in the stadium."

She concedes that's gotten tougher in recent years as the cost of travel and, particularly, tickets has escalated beyond all reasonable expectations. The Outlaws have worked with U.S. Soccer to keep prices for United States-run games at $45 apiece or lower, which allows for some cost certainty in an often unreasonably costly sport. 

Naturally, that approach isn't working with FIFA. It turns out that there was quite the catch to the $60 tickets FIFA offered to the Outlaws: for the USMNT's first three group stage matches, the Outlaws — typically seated directly behind one goal — will be in the 300- and 400-level sections of the stadiums. "These are the worst tickets that I've ever seen out of the five World Cups I've been to," American Outlaws President Brian Hexsel told NBC last week. 

That's classic FIFA, though, putting even the boundless faith of the American Outlaws to the test. 

The American Outlaws have grown from a small club of about 60 people to having membership chapters across the country, including Kansas City.Doug Zimmerman/ISI Photos via Getty Images

About 45 minutes before the USMNT-Senegal friendly match begins in Charlotte, a circle forms around several drummers, including Williamson. Somehow the drum corps has come up one snare player short, so a young man — who clearly had some kind of high school marching band training — steps up and joins the group. He'll spend the rest of the game right there next to them, drumming away, a perfect embodiment of the Outlaws' all-are-welcome ethos. 

In a nice bit of cross-sport solidarity, members of the Carolina Panthers' PurrCussion drum corps join the party, adding heft and weight to the procession, along with some Panther-specific "Keep Pounding" riffs. Ulysses S. Chant and other leaders teach the gathered crowd some new chants built on the Terminator rhythm and "Crocodile Rock," among other familiar tunes. Do the chants stick in the crowd's memory? Not really, but the enthusiasm does, and that's what's important. 

And then they're off, marching down McNinch Street toward Bank of America Stadium. They'll fill Section 121, and they'll stand, chant and cheer for two-plus hours as Pulisic and the rest of the United States outlast Senegal 3-2. Then they'll disperse into the North Carolina evening, the sounds of drums undoubtedly echoing in their ears for days. 

Wherever the USMNT plays this summer, the Outlaws will gather, in person or around screens. They'll drum, and chant, and cheer, and celebrate the very best parts of what it means to be American. And they'll be open to everyone, including you. All you have to do to join the Outlaws is start clapping to the beat. 

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