CINCINNATI — The United States Men’s National Team hosted Morocco in an international friendly at TQL Stadium with plenty of support behind them. 

What You Need To Know

  • The American Outlaws are the unofficial supporters of U.S. Soccer with 200 chapters internationally

  • The AO Cincinnati chapter looked forward to hosting fellow fans before, during and after the match against Morocco

  • Cincinnati is a finalist city to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup 

  • American supporters are hopeful to see the soccer continue to ascend in popularity nationally and Cincinnati
​​Plenty of red, white and blue support was seen at The Pitch Cincinnati.

“Cincinnati is like a foundational part of the soccer culture in this country now,” American Outlaws Cincinnati Secretary Zach Blandford said.

American Outlaws of Cincinnati is the unofficial support group of U.S. Soccer — with 200 chapters and more than 30,000 members across the world. 

Blandford and his fellow outlaws are ready to see more world-class soccer in the Queen City.

“Pretty excited,” Blandford said. “It’s one of the tune-up games right before they head up to Qatar for the World Cup. It’s an opportunity to see what the team is gonna look like.” 

American Outlaws In-Stadium Chair Donald Wine came in from D.C. to support the Yanks. He’s made it to nearly every U.S. Soccer match. 

“You wouldn't do it if you didn't love it,” Wine said. “It's just like some people have their hobbies. They may collect cards and they may go on trips to the outdoors. We do trips to soccer games, and it's a lot of fun because you get to combine the love for sport and the love for travel.”

The Pitch Cincy is the home bar for the AO in Cincinnati. Director of Marketing Andrew Maloney said big games like the international friendly are a big boost for the bar, and they help grow the sport locally.

“We’re loving to be here right across the street and foster that growth right here in Cincinnati,” Maloney said. 

The city of Cincinnati is hopeful to be selected as one of the host sites for the 2026 World Cup. 

A new economic study from the University of Cincinnati showed nearly $450 million and 3,087 jobs would come to Greater Cincinnati if it is selected as a host city. The selection would also create an additional $20 million in tax revenue for state and local governments. 

That gives the AO something to look forward to, because as the Americans ascend, so do the Outlaws.

“It’s a part of the national fabric of this sport,” Blandford said. “It’s just really a testament to this city and how cool it is. How much folks love being here. How much people that are from here are proud of being from here. Proud of being part of all this. It’s just a really special thing to be a part of.”