SPOKANE, Wash. — While Scotland’s Tartan Army made headlines taking over the streets of Boston, a homegrown fan movement has been steadily building soccer communities across the United States — and Spokane has a chapter of its own.
The American Outlaws, the official fan club of the U.S. men’s and women’s national soccer teams, operates more than 200 chapters nationwide. The Spokane chapter gathers regularly at Logan Tavern to cheer on the national teams.
“The American Outlaws are the official, unofficial, official fan club of the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams,” said Lena Cooley, the Spokane chapter’s membership chairman.
For Cooley and fellow members, the draw is as much about community as it is about soccer. The group gives fans a dedicated space to watch with others who share their enthusiasm for the sport.
“It’s the camaraderie — we know each other,” Cooley said. “You’re not going to be like, ‘Oh, who is going to show the game? Am I going to sit alone? If I scream go USA, am I going to stand out in the crowd?’ You’re not alone.”
Beyond the watch parties, the Spokane chapter actively supports Project 90, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to soccer for people of all backgrounds.
“We are supporting Project 90 — it’s an organization that really wants to make soccer accessible to everybody,” Cooley said. “Soccer is more than kicking a ball on a field. It’s about teamwork. It’s about being a part of something.”
That sense of belonging carries through every watch party the Outlaws host, regardless of the stakes of the match.
“When you go to watch a game — at least for me — I like to be around people that are cheering with me, and that’s what we do here,” Cooley said. “You’re high-fiving, giving hugs. It’s that heart-warming ‘I’m a part of something.'”
One of the group’s greatest strengths, Cooley said, is its national reach. Members can walk into an Outlaws chapter in any city and find the same energy and welcome they get in Spokane.
“My favorite part of being an American Outlaw is that we are national,” she said. “I’ve gone to games in Portland, Seattle, Boise — it’s just an amazing organization.”
The Spokane chapter of the American Outlaws will return to Logan Tavern on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. for the U.S. match against Turkey. New members and first-time attendees are welcome.
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