I don’t think you should need to be a soccer fan to get excited about the World Cup.  The Tournament lasts more than 2 years, with something like 2 or 3 rounds and 20-25 qualifying games just to make it to the final 32.  It’s an extraordinarily long process in which to get to basically 32 of the same 36 or 37 teams every time.

So on June 11, South Africa becomes the Center of the Universe.  The 32 teams go into 8 round robin groups, so each country gets 3 games.  The top 2 teams in each group then go into a knuckle grinding, finger scraping, nail biting single elimination bracket of death.

Now, one game in the early round that holds international intrigue is the U.S.A. vs our former oppressors, England, on Saturday morning, June 12.  Not much of the world gives us a chance, which is what makes this game so fun.

I’ve been known to complain that there is a gulf between the soccer fanatics, and the regular sports fan.  Soccer fanatics are like the guys who follow an indie band, who almost get mad if you don’t love the band as much as they do.  It’s hard to join them if you don’t have the same passion.

So that’s why I love what the American Outlaws, Seattle Chapter are doing.  The American Outlaws are the guys you see wearing Red, White and Blue in countries like Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Estonia, etc… Those that aren’t making the trip to South Africa have set up a place where all of the rowdiest U.S. soccer supporters in the city, can be joined by all of the people who want to be huge soccer fans for 4 weeks every 4 years.  They have rented out Neumo’s, installing huge TV’s, setting up tons of bars, and getting taco trucks from around the area to feed us.  

The US v England game starts at 11:00am Seattle time, which means the American Outlaws will be there at 8:00.  650 people – you included – will be in Red, White and Blue.  You’ll get caught up in the songs, the chants, and the patriotism.  If we win or tie, you’ll share in the disbelief with a billion people watching the game around the world, and remember where you were the day every Englishman died inside.  If we lose, we’ll all console ourselves with another round and look forward to Wednesday’s game.

But kudos to American Outlaws Seattle for setting up an environment where the fanatics can be their regular fanatic selves, and the casual sports fan can embrace the fanaticism, if only for a day.